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The Baltimore Ravens surprisingly have one more chance to potentially save their season when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18, and they're going to have their quarterback back in the lineup. Lamar Jackson, who has been dealing with a back contusion, will play in the battle for the AFC North crown, he confirmed to reporters Thursday.

Jackson suffered the injury when he got kneed in the back in Week 16 against the New England Patriots and then missed Week 17 against the Green Bay Packers but was a full participant in both Wednesday's and Thursday's practices. He's on track to have his first full week of practice in nearly two months.

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh told reporters that Jackson "looked good" at practice on Wednesday. On Thursday, Jackson said he "feels great."

NFL playoff picture: Steelers take AFC North on missed FG; Panthers win NFC South with assist from Falcons
Tyler Sullivan
NFL playoff picture: Steelers take AFC North on missed FG; Panthers win NFC South with assist from Falcons

Jackson dealt with a plethora of injuries this year, not just an early-season hamstring strain (missed three games) and his current back contusion. Ankle, toe and knee issues and popped up for Jackson on the injury report throughout the year, and he has had just one full week of practice since returning from the hamstring injury. The back contusion was significant enough that Jackson struggled to even toss a ball with a member of the team's training staff in the locker room during the Week 16 game the Patriots, and he did not practice at all leading up to last week's game against the Packers.

"It was not good at all early in the week, and it improved as the week went on, and that was cause for optimism," Harbaugh said Monday.

After Week 16, the Ravens' playoff hopes appeared slim: Baltimore blew a 11-point fourth quarter lead in a 28-24 loss to New England. Furthermore, the Steelers dramatically held off the Detroit Lions, 29-24. That meant either a Ravens loss or a Steelers win in Week 17 would hand the division to Pittsburgh.

But the Ravens did their part, beating the Packers 41-24 behind a 216-yard, four-touchdown performance by Derrick Henry and solid play by Jackson's backup, Tyler Huntley, on Saturday night. Then the Cleveland Browns upset the Steelers 13-6 on Sunday, pushing the AFC North race to the final week.