The Baltimore Ravens probably feel like they’re living in a nightmare right now. In Lamar Jackson’s return to the field on Sunday, the two-time NFL MVP was sidelined after suffering a thumb injury on Baltimore’s first offensive play against the Buffalo Bills.
After the Ravens’ 36-10 loss, head coach Jesse Minter announced that Jackson would be placed on injured reserve.
“It will be a transactional agreement,” Minter said. “He’s going to go on IR.”
Putting Jackson on IR means he will miss at least four games. Here’s a look at Baltimore’s upcoming schedule:
Week 9: Jaguars (Thursday Night)
Week 10: Chargers
Week 11: at the Panthers
Week 12: In Texas
Week 13: good bye
Week 14: Buccaneers
With Jackson now on injured reserve, the earliest he could return is Week 14 against the Bucs on Dec. 13. Jackson has already missed three games this season due to injury, which will bring his total to at least seven.
The thumb injury occurred on Baltimore’s first offensive play of the game. On a first-and-10 play, Jackson threw a pass to Zay Flowers, but his hand hit a defender’s arm as he threw the ball, and Jackson was immediately in pain.
Jackson clearly didn’t feel right, as he quickly ran to the sideline, at which point the Ravens’ training staff took him to the locker room at Baltimore’s Highmark Stadium.
The matchup between Jackson and Josh Allen should have been one of the highlights of Week 8, but instead it turned into a big win for Buffalo after Jackson left the game.
The Ravens have played three games without Jackson this year, and if these are any indication, things could get ugly over the next few weeks.
In the first four games with Jackson on the court, the Ravens averaged 29.8 points per game while going 3-1. However, they have gone just 1-2 over the last three weeks with Jackson out, averaging 17.7 points per game. And now you can add another loss to that tally in a game where the Crows managed just 10 points.
It is still unclear who will be the starting QB for Thursday’s game against Jacksonville. Not only was Jackson injured, Tyler Huntley also had to leave the game with a leg injury. If Huntley isn’t ready to return, that means QB Joe Fagnano will get the first start of his career.
Fagnano, an undrafted rookie out of UConn, went 10-of-12 for 91 yards in nearly 2.5 quarters against the Bills.
Who is Ravens’ Joe Fagnano? Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson is moving to their third QB after Tyler Huntley’s injuries
Zachary Pereles
For Jackson, there’s no guarantee he’ll be back once he’s eligible to come off IR. A right thumb injury is brutal for a quarterback because it affects their ability to catch the football. Jackson will need it to fully heal before he can return, and he likely won’t be back on the field until late December as he has to undergo surgery.
At 4-4, the Ravens will have to keep their heads above water until then, or it could be a lost season for Baltimore.