Packers vs. Ravens NFL injury report: Oddsmakers "middling" spread on Lamar Jackson's status; likely game-time call for first meeting vs. Aaron Rodgers

The marquee game around the NFL Sunday, at least in theory, is the Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Ravens in a matchup of division leaders and a potential Super Bowl 56 preview – that exact matchup is currently priced +4500. It would be the first-ever meeting between former league MVPs in Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson, but we may not know until Sunday early afternoon whether Jackson will be able to play through his ankle injury. Oddsmakers are taking a "middling" approach to that. Click here for model picks. 

As of this writing, the Packers are anywhere from 5-5.5 favorites at various sportsbooks – 5.5 at Caesars. That would probably go up to 6.5 or 7 if Tyler Huntley has to make his second career start for Baltimore if Jackson can't go. If he can play, that spread likely drops to Packers -3. This way, the books are protected by putting the number in the middle. Certainly, that will be the most-watched spread on Sunday. If you start seeing the number move in one direction, the books know something.

Jackson left last Sunday's loss to Cleveland with a sprained ankle – the good news is that it wasn't a high-ankle sprain because the former Heisman winner wouldn't be playing this week with that. He hasn't practiced through Thursday and almost surely won't Friday, either, but that wouldn't stop him from playing Sunday. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said the decision of whether or not Jackson plays "could go down to the wire." Do note that kickoff is 4:25 p.m. ET and not in the early window.

Huntley started for an ill Jackson in Week 11 in Chicago and led the Ravens to a 16-13 comeback victory. The former Utah star played well in relief of Jackson last Sunday as well, completing 27-for-38 for 270 yards and a TD as the Ravens nearly rallied for the win. If it's Huntley and Jackson can't even be the emergency backup, Baltimore signed Josh Johnson off the Jets' practice squad earlier this week.

If Jackson does play, it would mark the third consecutive season in which the two most recent league MVPs have met as opposing starting quarterbacks. Rodgers won his third award last year and Jackson his first in 2019. Patrick Mahomes was involved in the previous two. (Note: Jackson played in a Ravens 2019 preseason game vs. the Packers but Rodgers didn't.)

Bettors seem to think Jackson will play because they are crushing Over the total 43.5 points with 98 percent of the money and 91 percent of the tickets.

The Packers will be looking to snap the Ravens' 13-game winning streak against NFC teams. It is the longest streak by an AFC team vs. the NFC since New England's 17-game winning streak in 2005-09. Dating to 2019, Green Bay is 8-3 against AFC opponents. Rodgers ranks No. 2 in the NFL with a passer rating of 117.3 against AFC teams since then.

Green Bay's 11-2 ATS mark this season is the NFL's best. The Ravens are 12-1 ATS as regular season underdog since 2018, but obviously that's mostly due to Jackson.

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