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Vikings coach Brad Childress was not available for comment Sunday, but it's reasonable to think the injury could keep Jackson out of the most important game of the preseason Saturday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Teams typically treat their third preseason game as a dress rehearsal for the regular season, giving starters extended playing time. Jackson's status for the preseason finale at Dallas on Aug. 28 also is unknown, but it's hard to imagine he would not be ready to play in the season opener Sept. 8 at Green Bay.
Jackson suffered the injury while scrambling in the first quarter of a 23-15 victory against the Ravens. Rather than slide to avoid contact, Jackson took on a hit by Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and then safety Dawan Landry.
The Vikings had the day off Sunday. The team is expected to give an update on Jackson today after practice at Winter Park.
Jackson's injury should not keep him sidelined for an extended period of time, but knee sprains by definition involve the stretching or tearing of a ligament.
This is the second time Jackson has injured his right knee since being drafted in 2006. He injured his knee in practice as a rookie and underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
Jackson also missed three games last season because of injuries, which included a strained groin, a concussion and a fractured index finger.
The coaching staff has been pleased with Jackson's progress this offseason and through training camp, but this latest injury is another setback, particularly if it forces him to miss the preseason game against Pittsburgh.
Jackson has looked sharp in his limited preseason action, but he still needs more work to establish a rhythm with his receivers, especially newcomer Bernard Berrian, who did not play against Baltimore because of a sore toe.
Jackson and Berrian worked out together this summer and have developed some chemistry in camp, but that's not the same as going against a real opponent, even if it's only preseason.
Asked if Jackson could have returned to Saturday's game had it been the regular season, Childress said: ``He played for how many plays after that? So, chances are he could have. You still want to always be able to protect yourself so that's always kind of the litmus for us.''
Veteran Gus Frerotte replaced Jackson and completed four of nine passes for 69 yards and one touchdown. A number of Vikings players have noted recently that Frerotte, at age 37, still has plenty of life left in his arm. And despite not playing in a West Coast offense since 2001 in Denver, Frerotte appears to have a firm understanding of Childress' version.
``I sense that he's getting a pretty good feel of what we're doing systematically,'' Childress said Saturday night. ``I don't think he's struggling with that at all.''
Frerotte showed good awareness on a 5-yard touchdown pass to veteran Robert Ferguson in the second quarter. Lined up wide on the right side, Ferguson went in motion to the slot and then methodically worked his way across the field until Frerotte found him in the back of the end zone on the opposite side.
``I'm pretty comfortable,'' Frerotte said. ``It's just still new. There are still certain times where it's the protection, and there are certain situations where I've got to just get better at it. You can study all you want. Until you get in a game and do it full speed then you've got to be able to catch up in that sense. I'm still working my way there.''
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