Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson hasn’t joined Sunday night’s opponent Josh Allen in landing a contract extension ahead of the 2025 season, but he said on Wednesday that he’s only thinking about the Bills at the moment.
The prospect of a contract extension has been a frequent talking point this offseason with Jackson’s $74.5 million cap hit in 2026 standing out among the reasons why the move would be of interest to the Ravens. General Manager Eric DeCosta said last week that talks are “ongoing” without sharing any details about where things stand.
On Wednesday, Jackson said that he’s confident there will be a deal at some point, but that his eyes are only on football with the opener in Buffalo growing closer.
“The season’s here, I’m not worried about that,” Jackson said in a press conference. “You were better off asking me that during camp. I’m locked in, I’m ready for the season to start. That time will come.”
Jackson’s play since joining the Ravens gives him every reason to feel secure about his future with the team and about his chances of setting a new high in the quarterback market whenever a deal comes together.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott gave a preview of what the team’s first injury report of the season will look like ahead of Wednesday’s practice.
McDermott said at a press conference that he expects wide receiver Khalil Shakir to be a limited participant. Shakir returned to practice last week after missing time with an ankle injury.
Cornerback Christian Benford is also expected to work in a limited fashion. McDermott said “we’ll see” when asked if Benford, who has a leg injury, will be able to play against the Ravens.
Benford’s fellow corner Tre’Davious White (leg) will not practice, but he has not been ruled out at this point. Wide receiver Curtis Samuel (personal) will be back at practice and kicker Tyler Bass (pelvis) is set for a limited session.
When Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely fractured his foot during a training camp practice, there was some hope that he’d be able to recover in time to play against the Bills in Week 1.
It now looks unlikely that the Ravens will have Likely, however. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Likely is expected to miss the season opener.
Likely did not take part in Monday’s practice and Wednesday’s injury report will bring word of any change to that status. The tight end is expected to be able to return to action soon and his spot on the active roster means the team won’t have to make any move to bring him back once he’s ready to play.
Mark Andrews and Charlie Kolar will handle the tight end duties while Likely is out.
With the Ravens in Buffalo to take on the Bills on Sunday Night Football, the NFL’s two most recent Most Valuable Players will be on the same field. That’s only the fifth time ever that the last two MVPs have faced off in Week One.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen was the MVP of the 2024 regular season, and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was MVP in 2023. Last year they met once in the regular season (Jackson and the Ravens won) and once in the playoffs (Allen and the Bills won). This year the winner will likely be the early-season betting favorite to win the Super Bowl, and the winning quarterback will likely be the early-season betting favorite to win another league MVP.
The two most recent MVPs also squared off in Week One last year, when Allen and the Ravens faced Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Previously, the two most recent reigning MVPs played in Week One in 2000 (Terrell Davis’s Broncos against Kurt Warner’s Rams), 1998 (Brett Favre’s Packers against Barry Sanders’ Lions), and 1980 (Terry Bradshaw’s Steelers against Earl Campbell’s Houston Oilers).
The Bills are bringing back a familiar face for a little more depth on offense.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Buffalo is signing receiver Gabe Davis to the team’s practice squad.
Davis, 26, was a Bills fourth-round pick in 2020 and spent his first four seasons with the franchise. But after what seemed like a breakout performance against the Chiefs in the 2021 postseason with four touchdowns, Davis did not become a top-flight receiving option for the club over the next two seasons. He caught 48 passes for 836 yards with seven touchdowns in 2022 and then had 45 receptions for 746 yards with seven TDs in 2023.
The Jaguars signed Davis to a three-year contract in free agency in March 2024, but he was released in early May after this year’s draft. Davis recorded 20 receptions for 239 yards with two TDs in 10 games last year, missing most of the season with a torn meniscus.
While he’s reportedly still recovering from the knee injury, Davis may be able to help the offense at some point in 2025.
He previously had visits with the 49ers, Giants, Steelers, and Saints this offseason.
In 74 career games, Davis has 183 receptions for 2,969 yards with 29 touchdowns.
