Baltimore’s quarterback situation remains cloudy, and Jesse Minter isn’t giving much away.
Recent reports had tied the Ravens’ trade for Arizona Cardinals veteran Jacoby Brissett to the possibility that Lamar Jackson could be back for a Week 16 home game against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 27. Jackson is expected to miss about six to 10 weeks after injuring the thumb on his throwing hand in a Week 8 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 1, but Minter didn’t bite when asked Monday about the star quarterback’s timeline.
“You know, I’m going to keep most of the conversations between Lamar and I between Lamar and I,” Minter said, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk and the Ravens’ website.“ Again, just like before, it’s a guy when you’re dealing with something that no one wants to be on the field more.
He’s probably going to do everything he can to put himself in position [to play]. But I’ll leave it at that.”
Minter also would not say whether Jackson has had, or needs, surgery on the thumb. He likewise did not confirm or deny that Jackson suffered a fracture.
The Ravens’ depth chart took another hit when primary backup Tyler Huntley went down with a season-ending toe injury on Nov. 1, leaving Brissett lined up to start when 4-5 Baltimore hosts the 0-8 Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football on Nov. 16.
NFL and Ravens insider Jason La Canfora added another layer in a Sports Illustrated piece published Monday, writing that “the number of people Jackson actually confides in seems to grow smaller by the years.”
“He is going to make the decision he needs to make, at the appropriate time, in the best interest of his health and career based on the information available whenever he is close to being cleared to play again,” La Canfora added about Jackson possibly returning to the Baltimore lineup this season. “That’s a good six weeks down the line.”
La Canfora also suggested Jackson would only come back this season if it “truly makes sense in the standings and...only if [the Ravens look] like a football team that could muster anything in the postseason.”
As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Baltimore as a 5.5-point home favorite over the Chargers.
In Other News...
Ravens Made A Late O-Line Move That Feels Bigger Than It Should
Baltimore kept tinkering with its offensive line well past the point when most teams are done shopping, making another move during the 2026 season to add depth and flexibility up front. The latest addition came in a deal with Atlanta, with the Ravens sending guard Andrew Vorhees and a future sixth-round pick to the Falcons in exchange for center Ryan Neuzil, according to Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz.
The timing alone makes it notable, since this came shortly after the trade deadline had passed, and it adds to a run of line changes that has defined Baltimore's approach this year. For a team that has spent the season trying to stabilize the interior of the line, the move suggests the Ravens were still looking for a cleaner fit in the middle, even if the full impact of the trade will take a little longer to sort out. [Read more 🡒]
Lamar Jackson And The Ravens May Be Headed For A Brutal Choice
Lamar Jacksons contract situation has been one of the Ravens defining storylines for a while now, and the latest round of negotiations only reinforces how complicated this has become. General manager Eric DeCosta and cap chief Nick Matteo have been working through the details on Baltimores side, while Jacksons camp has had outside guidance from Mark Levin, a former NFLPA salary cap expert who has been closely involved in the process.
Levins read on the situation has been blunt enough to keep the pressure on the Ravens as they try to find a path forward. He has made clear that this is not the kind of negotiation likely to resolve cleanly unless Baltimore is willing to meet Jackson at the very top of the quarterback market, and his skepticism leaves the organization facing a difficult decision if the talks continue to stall. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Lose Another Familiar Piece As Secondary Depth Questions Grow
Another familiar name from Baltimores recent defensive past is out of the picture. Arthur Maulet, who spent part of his nine-year NFL career with the Ravens and carved out a meaningful role in their 2023 defense, has decided to retire after bouncing through multiple teams around the league.
For a secondary already facing questions about depth, the timing stings a little more because Baltimore has been trying to stabilize other parts of the roster, too. The Ravens recently brought in Jacoby Brissett to help at quarterback while Lamar Jackson works his way back from injury recovery, and now one more experienced defensive back is no longer available as the team keeps sorting through its options. [Read more 🡒]