The Baltimore Ravens have spent the past week trying to steady a season that has moved in the wrong direction. Lamar Jackson returned from an ankle injury in Week 8, only to leave on the first offensive snap against the Buffalo Bills.
That injury already forced Baltimore to place its quarterback on injured reserve. Now, the Ravens have a clearer idea of how long they may have to play without their two-time MVP, and the timeline could shape the rest of their season.
Lamar Jackson Hopes For Late Return
Jackson is expected to miss six to nine weeks after suffering a fractured and dislocated right thumb, according to NFL Network. He underwent surgery and has told teammates he plans to return this season. The timetable does not guarantee a return, but it leaves a path for Jackson to come back late in the year if Baltimore stays in the playoff race.
Jackson’s injury came at a difficult point for the Ravens. He had already missed three games with an ankle injury before returning against Buffalo. His return lasted only one play before his throwing hand collided with a Bills defender.
The Ravens lost that game 36-10 and fell to 4-4. They then lost 33-10 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9, dropping to 4-5 and last in the AFC North. That makes the next several weeks as important as Jackson’s recovery.
Baltimore Has Already Made a Move at Quarterback
The Ravens could not rely on an undrafted rookie for an extended stretch. Joe Fagnano started against Jacksonville after Jackson and Tyler Huntley were both unavailable.
Fagnano struggled in that loss, completing 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards and two interceptions. That performance made Baltimore’s quarterback problem harder to ignore, so the team traded for Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals.
Baltimore sent Arizona a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 seventh-round pick for Brissett and a 2027 fifth-round pick. The veteran now gives the Ravens a more experienced quarterback while Jackson recovers.
That move matters because the six-to-nine-week window pushes Jackson’s possible return deep into the season. Baltimore has to keep winning without him if it wants that return to matter.
Ravens Have a Difficult Path Before Jackson Can Return
Baltimore is already last in the AFC North at 4-5, so the team cannot wait for Jackson to get healthy. The Ravens need Brissett to keep the season alive.
The team faces the Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the next four games. NFL.com lists those teams with a combined 8-21 record.
After that stretch, Baltimore enters a tougher finish with four AFC North games. The Ravens still have games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals.
That timing could become important if Jackson’s recovery reaches the longer end of the estimate. A return in six weeks would put him back much earlier than a nine-week recovery, which could push his comeback toward the final part of the regular season or postseason.
Ravens QB Still Has a Path Back This Season
Jackson has completed 68 of 97 passes for 967 yards, six touchdowns and one interception this season. He also has 144 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
The Ravens are now trying to bridge the gap between Jackson’s injury and a possible return. Brissett has the experience to handle that job, but Baltimore’s 4-5 record leaves little room for another long losing streak.
The Last Word
This injury changes the Ravens’ season because Jackson is not expected back soon enough to miss a few games and resume normal business. Baltimore now has to win without its quarterback while protecting a playoff path for his eventual return. The Brissett trade gives the team a better quarterback than Fagnano, but it also costs draft capital while the Ravens are fighting from behind in the AFC North.
The biggest question is whether Baltimore can stay close enough to the playoff race for Jackson’s return to matter. If it can, the six-to-nine-week timeline keeps the season alive. If the losses continue, Jackson could return to a team with no postseason path.
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