Goodbye game consoles, ping pong tables...: Ravens players punished by management for poor play

The Baltimore Ravens finally avoided defeat in Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season, thanks to their bye week. Before that, John Harbaugh’s team had dropped four straight games, with their 1-5 record leaving them anchored to the bottom of the AFC North.

An injury to Lamar Jackson partly explains their struggles. However, the Ravens lost to the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions with their star quarterback in the lineup, while they were trailing the Kansas City Chiefs when Jackson sustained a hamstring injury in the third quarter.

Ravens’ struggles continue without Jackson

Those losses were at least to teams tipped to challenge for the Super Bowl. The Ravens themselves had been included in that conversation during the preseason.

With Cooper Rush standing in for Jackson, Baltimore was hammered 44-10 by the Houston Texans and managed only three points in a meek defeat to the Los Angeles Rams.

Harbaugh takes drastic measures

In an attempt to turn around his team’s form, Harbaugh has reportedly taken drastic measures, according to the Baltimore Sun. “Several recreational staples” have been removed from the Ravens’ locker room, effectively putting fun on hold until the team improves.

The report notes that a basketball hoop near Jackson’s and Zay Flowers’ stalls, a pingpong table, cornhole boards, and video game consoles - Super Smash Bros. being the team’s game of choice - have all been removed as Harbaugh hopes tough love will spark a turnaround.

Results suggest limited impact

It should be noted, though, that these items were taken out of the locker room after the Week 4 loss to the Chiefs, which dropped Baltimore to 1-3. Since then, the Ravens are 0-2, allowing 61 points while scoring just 13. While Harbaugh’s “punishment” has clearly had an impact, it appears to have been a negative one so far.

When will Lamar Jackson return for the Ravens?

Last week, Harbaugh hinted that Jackson could be available in Week 8 when Baltimore hosts the Chicago Bears on Sunday, October 26. However, the quarterback did not appear at Monday’s practice, meaning good news continues to be hard to come by for Ravens fans.

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