Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is aiming to be back on the field before the end of the 2026 NFL season, ESPN reports. Jackson, who is expected to miss roughly six to nine weeks, told teammates to “just stay alive” as he works toward a return.
The injury occurred in Week 8 against the Buffalo Bills, when Jackson suffered a fractured and dislocated thumb on his first pass attempt after his thumb collided with the hand of Bills defender Greg Rousseau while the defender tried to break up the throw. Jackson left that game and was replaced by Tyler Huntley, who also left with an injury.
On Thursday the team put both Jackson and Huntley on injured reserve; Huntley’s turf-toe injury is believed to be season-ending. The Ravens have not fully detailed Jackson’s condition, and when asked whether Jackson would miss the rest of the year, head coach Jesse Minter replied only, “we’ll see.”
If Jackson needs more than the minimum IR stint, his earliest realistic return would be in early January — around Week 18 or into the playoffs — so a comeback is far from certain. Losing both Jackson and Huntley has already hurt the Ravens’ record: a Week 8 loss to Buffalo left them 4-4, and third-stringer Joe Fagnano struggled in Week 9 during a 33-10 defeat at Jacksonville, dropping Baltimore to 4-5.
The team has taken steps to shore up the lineup, trading for veteran QB Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals. Brissett wasn’t ready to play immediately but is expected to step into the starting role once he’s cleared and up to speed.
Whether Brissett can steady the team long enough for Jackson to return is an open question. The Ravens’ next four opponents currently have losing records, a stretch they need to capitalize on before finishing the season with four consecutive AFC North matchups against teams with winning records.
Fan Take: This matters because Jackson’s availability will shape Baltimore’s playoff hopes and could determine whether the team’s season stalls or survives until he’s healthy. It also highlights quarterback depth across the league — how teams respond to injuries at the sport’s most important position can change a season in an instant.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
