ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Lamar Jackson’s return lasted one play.
The Ravens quarterback will have thumb surgery and could miss the rest of the season, coach Jesse Minter said after Sunday’s 36-10 loss to the Bills. Jackson was hurt on his first snap back after missing time with an ankle injury, and the injury quickly turned a long-awaited comeback into another setback for Baltimore.
On that opening play, Jackson’s right hand collided with Buffalo linebacker Greg Rousseau’s arm. He immediately checked his thumb, showed it to trainers and left the field with a towel wrapped around his hand.
He was initially listed as questionable to return, but the Ravens ruled him out before the first quarter ended. Later, he came back to the sideline in the third quarter wearing a brace on his hand.
Jackson had already sat out three games while recovering from what he called a high-ankle sprain. During that stretch, Baltimore dropped back-to-back AFC North games and slid to the bottom of the division with Tyler Huntley at quarterback.
Huntley started Sunday’s game after Jackson exited, but he threw only four passes before leaving with a toe injury of his own. That pushed undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano into action for his first NFL snaps.
Fagnano finished 10 of 21 for 91 yards.
Minter said it was still uncertain whether Huntley would be able to practice this week, and the Ravens will sort through their quarterback options over the next 24 hours. That task gets even tougher with a Thursday night home game against the Jaguars, leaving little time to bring in a new quarterback and get him ready.
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