Lamar Jackson’s return is trending in the right direction for the Ravens, and the market has already noticed.
After weeks of uncertainty surrounding Jackson’s ankle injury, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that the Baltimore quarterback is expected to suit up Sunday against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8. Jackson has been sidelined since the second half of Week 4, but the latest update points toward him being available for the AFC showdown.
"I expect, based on the people I've spoke with, that Lamar Jackson will play this week," Rapoport said. "He'll be on the field this week against the Buffalo Bills.
I know we've been here before. This is a two-to-three week injury.
He is through the third week. He is believed to be as close to 100 percent as he has been, and the Ravens do expect him to play."
That news has already moved the line at DraftKings Sportsbook. Baltimore opened as a 3.5-point underdog, but the number shifted to Ravens +3 before Wednesday’s practice. Another drop is possible if Jackson gets in a full session.
Jackson returned to practice before Baltimore’s Week 7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, taking part in limited work before being ruled out. He was listed as questionable entering that game, then the Ravens made the call to keep him out on Saturday. That left Tyler Huntley to make his third start of the season.
The Ravens are 4-3 and sitting in last place in the AFC North after back-to-back losses to division opponents. Without Jackson, Baltimore has gone just 7-13 all-time. Against a 5-1 Bills team trying to grab the top spot in the AFC, the Ravens need their star quarterback back in the lineup.
Jackson’s numbers this season still show why his presence matters. In four games, he has completed 70.8 percent of his passes for 967 yards, six touchdowns and one interception.
On the ground, he has added 19 carries for 144 yards and a score. He left Week 4 at halftime and has not yet logged a full practice since, and the line has shifted in each of the last two weeks as his status has bounced around.
For now, the signs point to the two-time MVP being on track to play Buffalo.
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Lamar Jackson Uncertainty Just Got Bigger For A Slipping Ravens Season
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Jackson has been limited in practice since the injury, and the Ravens have felt the strain of playing without him. With a pivotal game looming, the uncertainty only adds to the pressure on a team that badly needs stability at quarterback, but the best answer on his availability may not be coming until later in the week. [Read more 🡒]