The Ravens expect to have quarterback Lamar Jackson back in the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Bills, but they will be missing one of their starting offensive linemen.
Right guard Vega Ioane has been ruled out with a knee injury. The first-round pick reportedly suffered an MCL sprain in last Sunday’s loss to the Bengals and was a limited participant in practice the last two days.
That practice work could help Ioane’s chances of returning for Baltimore’s Thursday night game against the Jaguars in Week 9.
Safety Jaylinn Hawkins (knee) has also been ruled out. Running back Adam Randall (neck) and cornerback T.J. Tampa (knee) are listed as questionable to be activated from injured reserve.
While it feels like nothing will be truly official until the first snap on Sunday, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is now set to start against the Bills after missing Baltimore’s last three games with a high ankle sprain.
Buffalo head coach Joe Brady told reporters in his Friday press conference that he’s not expecting to see a limited version of the two-time MVP quarterback.
“I’m sure he’s good to go,” Brady said, via Terrin Waack of The Buffalo News. “No one is perfectly healthy at this time in the NFL. We know we’re going to get the best version of Lamar Jackson, and it’s going to make for good football.”
Jackson has played the Bills five times in the regular season, going 3-2 in those contests. He’s completed 67 percent of his passers for 678 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s also rushed 41 times for 276 yards with two TDs.
In four games this season, Jackson has completed 70.8 percent of his passes for 967 yards with six touchdowns and one pick.
It’s still unclear whether or not receiver DJ Moore will return from his shoulder injury for Sunday’s game against the Ravens.
Head coach Joe Brady told reporters that Moore is one of several questionable Buffalo players for Week 8.
Moore hasn’t played since the Oct. 4 loss to New England, missing the Week 5 and Week 6 wins over the Rams and Raiders before the Week 7 bye.
Moore has 12 receptions for 178 yards with a touchdown so far in 2026.
Right tackle Spencer Brown (back), tight end Dalton Kincaid (chest), cornerback Dee Alford (ankle), and defensive lineman Greg Gaines will also be listed as questionable. Gaines suffered a minor injury during Friday’s practice.
Additionally, Damar Hamlin will start at safety as CJ Gardner-Johnson serves his one-game suspension on Sunday.
It looks like Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will be making his return to the lineup against the Bills this Sunday.
Jackson has missed the last three games with an ankle injury, but head coach Jesse Minter said at his Friday press conference that the plan is for Jackson to play after getting in a week of full practices. Jackson told reporters that he is still feeling pain in the ankle, but that it is better than in the past few weeks and that makes it “bearable” to play against Buffalo.
It appeared Jackson was on track to return last week, but he said on Friday that he woke up on Saturday with swelling in his ankle and that wound up leading to him being ruled out for Baltimore’s game against the Bengals.
The Ravens lost 35-13 to Cincinnati and have gone 1-2 without Jackson in the lineup. That leaves them with a 4-3 record for the season, which currently has them in last place in the AFC North.
Bills right tackle Spencer Brown says he needed to be heavily medicated to play in Week 6 against the Raiders after suffering a back injury in Week 5 against the Rams.
Asked about his presence on the injury report, Brown says it stemmed from his back but wouldn’t keep him off the field.
“Just lingering stuff from what’s happened to me the last couple weeks here. And what happened in that LA game just kind of got nicked up and then I took enough drugs to sedate a small elephant when I was in LA,” Brown said.
Reporters chuckled at that description, but Brown said it’s just a part of life for an NFL player.
“Everybody’s laughing. It’s protocol. NFL signed off on it, so it’s OK,” Brown said. “But yeah, just took care of the body the best way I knew how and got through the Vegas game and played pretty well and got on the bye week and kind of bit me in the butt a little bit. So, just taking it easy and smart.”
Brown said if he’s physically capable of getting on the field, he’ll always play and make no excuses.
“I do pride myself on being ready every single day,” Brown said. “When I’m out there, I’m out there. There’s not going to be any, ‘He’s nicked up, he’s got this going on, that’s why he’s not playing very well.’ That’s not me at all. If I’m out there in between the lines, I’m good enough to go.”
No one can question Brown’s toughness, but it’s fair to question whether it’s a good idea for the NFL to allow players to play when they’re injured badly enough that they need that kind of medication. The league is facing renewed scrutiny in recent weeks for issues including Jalen Hurts’ blood clot and Christian Watson returning to Thursday night’s game after going to the hospital with a broken rib. Perhaps players on enough drugs to sedate a small elephant should be given the day off.
