The Baltimore Ravens publicly insisted on Thursday that they believe Lamar Jackson wants to remain with the franchise long-term.

"I truly believe Lamar wants to finish his career in Baltimore," Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said Thursday in the team's 45-minute, end-of-season news conference.

DeCosta spoke with Jackson on Thursday and began the media session by saying he was excited to restart contract negotiations with him.

If no new deal is completed by March, Baltimore will place the franchise tag on Jackson to keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Without a new deal, the Ravens can keep Jackson in Baltimore for only two more seasons with the franchise tag.

DeCosta declined to say whether the Ravens would entertain trade offers for him.

"That's not something we're going to talk about at this point," DeCosta said.

Greg Roman has stepped down as offensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens. Roman had one season remaining on his contract though it is believed to have been a team option. 

"After visiting with Coach [John] Harbaugh and after huddling with my family, I have decided that now is the right time to move on from the Ravens so that I can explore new challenges and opportunities," Roman said in a statement. "... I'll truly miss Baltimore, but at the same time I am excited to attack my next opportunity with focus and passion."

Roman's most impressive feat was devising an outside-the-box offense around Lamar Jackson.

The Ravens' scoring had decreased in each of Roman's four seasons as Baltimore's playcaller, from an NFL-best 33.2 points per game in 2019 to 20.6 points per game in 2022 (19th in the league). 

It appears likely that the Baltimore Ravens will use the franchise tag on Lamar Jackson if they can't sign him to a long-term contract this offseason.

Doing so would allow other teams to negotiate with Jackson and sign him to an offer sheet. If the Ravens don't match an offer sheet, they would get two first-round draft picks from Jackson's new team.

There have been rumors that Jackson would like to return to his hometown of Miami and play for the Dolphins. However, the Dolphins don't have a 2023 first-round pick.

There is a loophole for Miami, though, if they were able to sign Jackson to an offer sheet after this spring's NFL Draft. Then, if the Ravens don't match, Baltimore would get the Dolphins' first-round picks in 2024 and 2025.

Lamar Jackson won't play in Sunday's playoff game at the Cincinnati Bengals as his left knee "remains unstable."

Jackson indicated on Twitter that he has "suffered a PCL Grade 2 sprain, on the borderline of a strain 3."

"There is still inflammation surrounding my knee and my knee remains unstable," Jackson wrote. "I wish I could be out there with my guys more than anything, but I can't give a 100% of myself to my guys and fans. I'm still hopeful we have a chance."

The Baltimore Ravens will start either Tyler Huntley or Anthony Brown in the game.

The Ravens initially described his return as "week to week," but he hasn't suited up for the past 39 days and, as of last week, was still walking with a limp.

Lamar Jackson didn't practice with the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday, greatly reducing his chances of playing against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night.

Jackson hasn't suited up since injuring his left knee on Dec. 4, a span of 38 days and 16 practices.

There had been some optimism last week that Jackson might come back after being sidelined for the last five regular-season games.

Lamar Jackson faces an uphill battle to play against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night in the Wild Card playoff matchup, according to sources.

Jackson, dealing with a PCL injury, hasn't played since December 4. He hasn't practiced with the Baltimore Ravens since suffering the injury in Week 13.

The expectation is that Tyler Huntley would start despite sitting in Week 18 with shoulder and wrist injuries.

Roquan Smith and the Baltimore Ravens have agreed to a five-year, $100 million deal with $45 million fully guaranteed.

Smith represented himself in negations. 

Smith becomes the first off-ball linebacker to get a contract with $20 million per year. 

In signing Smith now, the Ravens get to keep their franchise tag available for Lamar Jackson.

The Baltimore Ravens have a new lease to continue playing their home games at M&T Bank Stadium through at least the end of the 2037 season.

The lease was extended after a proposed agreement between the Ravens and the Maryland Stadium Authority received unanimous approval from the Maryland Board of Public Works.

The renewal of the agreement comes with the expectation that the team will soon begin requesting bonds to renovate M&T Bank Stadium.

Lamar Jackson hasn't played in over a month because of a sprained knee, but the Baltimore Ravens haven't ruled the quarterback out for the playoffs.

"He's a special guy," Greg Roman said. "I think if somebody's got a chance to do it, he does."

Jackson has not suited up since injuring his left knee on Dec. 4 and has missed 14 straight practices for the Ravens, who clinched a playoff berth two weeks ago. 

Roman acknowledged that no one really knows how Jackson will look until he gets back on the practice field.

"I would say, I would bet on him. I would definitely bet on him," Roman said. "It's not an ideal situation, obviously, but it's a great opportunity when he does come back to get him back in the lineup and get moving."

An interesting wrinkle has come out in the wake of the NFL's decision not to resume Week 17's game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills.

Despite the outcome of this Sunday's game between the Bengals and Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati has won the AFC North title due to a higher winning percentage.

However, if the Ravens defeat the Bengals in Week 18 and the two clubs face off in the Wild Card round, a coin toss would determine which team receives home field advantage.