Lamar Jackson (hand) exits after one play vs. BUF

Per Rapoport, Jackson has already told his teammates he plans to return this season. While even the short end of that timeline would only have Jackson back in Week 15, it’s an optimistic turn of events for a quarterback who was previously expected to miss the rest of the season. At a nine-week return, Jackson would need Baltimore to make the playoffs to have a shot at returning this year. Jacoby Brissett will likely close out the fantasy season as Baltimore’s starting quarterback, but there’s a chance we get Jackson back for a final game or two in the regular season.

Well, that’s good, because it will assuredly take a record-setting deal to keep him in a Ravens uniform. Jackson has an $84.34 million salary cap hit next season, so the team has to do something with his contract. Jackson has a no-trade clause and a no-franchise tag clause — he possesses a ton of leverage. Per Palmer, the two sides will not negotiate a new deal in-season, so they will try to get something done between the end of the season and the beginning of free agency, which starts in March 2027.

Head coach Jesse Minter didn’t dismiss the possibility of this being a season-ending injury for Jackson when asked about it after the game, but the optics on the field weren’t good, and the team wasted little time announcing he would undergo surgery and be placed on injured reserve. It wouldn’t be at all surprising to learn in the days ahead that Jackson’s season is over, but the team will likely wait until after he has his surgery to make any formal announcement. With Jackson and Tyler Huntley (toe) both being sidelined, rookie UDFA Joe Fagnano is slated to start on the short week on Thursday against the Jaguars.

When asked if this is a potentially season-ending injury for Jackson, Minter’s response was, “We’ll see.” After seeing Jackson’s injury on replay, it was easy to assume the Ravens’ QB1 would be looking at another multi-week absence, but this sounds like the worst-case scenario. If Jackson doesn’t land on season-ending IR, he would be required to miss at least four games before he could even consider a return. Adding insult to injury, the Ravens also lost backup Tyler Huntley in this game to a toe injury, meaning rookie UDFA Joe Fagnano could be in line to start on Thursday night against the Jaguars in Week 9.

Jackson’s day officially ends after one play. The two-time MVP injured the thumb on his throwing hand on his first and only dropback of the day and immediately went to the locker room. The urgency with which Jackson was ushered from the field, coupled with how quickly he was ruled out, suggests this could be a serious enough injury that will result in another multi-game absence for Jackson. Tyler Huntley will be under center for the remainder of Week 8’s game against the Bills.

Shortly after he exited the field the team announced that Jackson was questionable to return after suffering a thumb injury on his throwing hand. Tyler Huntley immediately took over for Jackson, as the Ravens’ offense went three-and-out on their first drive of the game.

The good news, per Wolfe, is that Jackson will still be able to move despite playing on a bum ankle. Jackson told reporters the pain is “bearable” earlier in the week, which didn’t exactly inspire confidence from Ravens fans and fantasy managers. On the other hand, if Jackson is out there, we expect him to be mobile enough to lead a top-flight offense. A date with the Bills, which features the highest game total of the week, should also create an incredible environment for fantasy production. He is back at the top of the QB1 mix for a likely shootout with the Bills.

“We do think we will have Lamar this game,” Minter said. Jackson practiced in full on Friday and has missed the last three weeks with his high-ankle sprain. He was officially cleared off the injury report. Jackson told reporters that he feels like “I’m no longer a statue.” Jackson will be “safe” to use as a QB1 against the Bills in what profiles as a fantasy points bonanza.

It’s the second consecutive full practice for Jackson, who is attempting to return from a three-game absence to face the Bills in Week 8. The two full sessions were also his first such practices since injuring his ankle, a positive development toward an active status in a marquee matchup. He’ll have one more opportunity to maintain his level of participation, which would likely keep him off the injury report heading into the weekend.

It’s Jackson’s first full practice since suffering the ankle injury in Week 4. Even with the many twists and turns in this latest injury saga, we’re comfortable assuming Jackson will play this week. The fact that he was held out this long hopefully means that he’s close to 100 percent healthy. Facing a likely shootout with the Bills, Jackson projects for the second-most fantasy points at his position, behind only Josh Allen.