Lamar Jackson’s return to the Ravens lineup lasted one play.
Baltimore’s quarterback left the team’s Week 8 game against the Buffalo Bills after hurting his right thumb on the first offensive snap of the night. Jackson dropped back, tried to hit Zay Flowers on an incomplete pass, and took contact from the middle and right side before his hand struck Bills edge rusher Gregory Rousseau’s arm.
The aftermath looked bad immediately, with images showing what appeared to be a serious thumb injury. Jackson headed to the locker room after that first pass attempt, and after two offensive drives he was officially ruled out for the rest of the game with the right thumb injury.
It was the latest cruel twist in a rough stretch for Jackson. He had already missed time after a brutal high ankle sprain in Week 4, when he was landed on by Tennessee Titans edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II. This time, the injury came on the follow-through of his first throw in his return.
Tyler Huntley took over at quarterback and the offense stalled right away. He guided back-to-back three-and-outs, and Baltimore managed only 5 yards across those possessions. The Ravens did get on the board with 7 points on the next sequence, helped by a Broderick Washington interception and Derrick Henry doing Derrick Henry things.
Huntley has shown he can handle the job in spots, including a win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5, but the offense has struggled around him. In Weeks 6 and 7, Baltimore scored just 23 points and produced 0 points in the second half.
That makes Jackson’s latest injury especially damaging for a team already in a two-game losing streak. His return had offered some hope in Baltimore, but now the Ravens are back waiting on another set of injury updates, with the offense once again in Huntley’s hands.
In Other News...
Derrick Henrys Latest Ravens Statement Says Plenty About His Legacy
Derrick Henrys latest trip to the end zone offered one of the few bright spots in a rough afternoon for Baltimore in Buffalo. Even in a 36-10 loss, Henry still led the Ravens rushing attack, and his touchdown added another layer to a career that already has him alongside some of the most accomplished backs of his era.
What stood out most was the company Henry now keeps, a reminder that his production has traveled with him from one franchise to another. For a Ravens team trying to steady itself after injuries hit the quarterback room, the next chance to reset comes at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9, where Baltimore will be looking for more than just a symbolic statement from its star runner. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Suddenly Face A Trade Deadline Baltimore Fans Never Expected
The Ravens Week 8 loss left them staring at a trade deadline that looks a lot different than anyone in Baltimore probably expected a few weeks ago. With Lamar Jackson sidelined, the front office has to weigh whether this is a spot to stay patient, add help, or at least protect the roster for the stretch ahead, all while trying to keep the season from slipping further off course.
There is already speculation that Baltimore could explore the quarterback market, but the bigger question may be whether the team is willing to move veteran pieces if the right offers come along. Even with that possibility hanging over the next few days, this does not look like a franchise preparing for a teardown - the Ravens still appear focused on staying competitive and giving themselves a chance to contend in the seasons ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Lamar Jackson Just Became The Ravens Biggest Offseason Decision
Lamar Jacksons latest injury has pushed an already complicated situation into the foreground for Baltimore, with the quarterback on injured reserve because of a right hand issue and a real possibility he does not play again this season. Even beyond the immediate concern of getting him healthy, the Ravens are now staring at the larger question that has hovered around their franchise player for months: how to handle a contract that is still in its middle years but already shaping the teams long-term planning.
Jackson is in the fourth year of a five-year deal, and the Ravens know the next move is not simple. Owner Steve Bisciotti has made clear he hopes an extension can still be worked out, but negotiations have not been easy, and the team has to weigh every path if a new agreement never comes together. For Baltimore, this is no longer just about one injured season. It is about whether the Ravens can keep their quarterback situation stable, or whether the biggest decision of the offseason becomes the one they never wanted to make. [Read more 🡒]