Ravens WR Ja'Kobi Lane to Undergo Wrist Surgery, Facing at Least 4 Games Out

Q: With key receivers injured, who will emerge as Lamar Jackson's top passing target in Week 2?

If Zay Flowers is unavailable or limited in Week 2, Mark Andrews looks like the safest bet to become Lamar Jackson’s top passing target, with Rashod Bateman the leading candidate among wide receivers. The clearest evidence is Week 1 usage. Andrews drew six targets and caught four passes for 49 yards, tying Flowers for the team lead in targets and reinforcing his long-standing role as Jackson’s most trusted option. Flowers erupted for 150 yards before aggravating his hamstring, but his status for the Saints game is uncertain after missing time with the same injury in camp. Ja’Kobi Lane is expected to miss several weeks with a fractured wrist, removing another projected contributor. Bateman should see a larger opportunity share simply because of the injuries, and he did run the most routes among Ravens receivers in Week 1. But he was targeted only once and finished without a catch, which makes him a projection more than a proven answer. LaJohntay Wester and Chris Moore are likely to get expanded snaps, and Moore did flash with a 53-yard catch against Indianapolis, yet both still appear more like complementary options than focal points. That leaves Andrews as the most reliable answer. If Flowers sits, Baltimore’s passing game is likely to funnel through Andrews on key downs, with Bateman getting the best chance to emerge as the top outside receiver and Wester possibly carving out a useful slot role.

3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Sep 16

Ja'Kobi Lane is expected to have wrist surgery in the coming days after fracturing the wrist in Baltimore's Week 1 win over Indianapolis.
The 22-year-old rookie caught 1 pass for 11 yards in his debut before the injury, after opening the season as one of the Ravens' top three receivers.
Matt Zenitz reported Baltimore hopes Lane can return in about 1 month, though injured reserve remains an option that would sideline him for at least 4 games.
Lane's absence could further test the Ravens' receiving depth as Zay Flowers also left Week 1 with a hamstring injury, though that issue was initially described as not serious.