Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter confirmed on Friday morning that starting quarterback Lamar Jackson will be out of the lineup for the next six to ten weeks. The announcement follows surgical procedures to repair a broken and dislocated thumb. Minter stated that Jackson is recovering well and is actively working toward a return, though the exact timing will depend on his progress. The coaching staff remains committed to performing at a high level during the second half of the season while managing the recovery timeline.
The injury occurred during the first play of the Ravens' Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The game was highlighted as a contest between two recent NFL MVP winners, with Jackson facing off against Josh Allen. This incident effectively ended Jackson's return from a previous absence. He had missed the prior three and a half games due to a high ankle sprain sustained during the first half of the Week 4 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
With Jackson unavailable, the Ravens turned to backup quarterback Tyler Huntley, who had started three games earlier in the season with a record of one win and two losses. However, Huntley also sustained an injury during the same game against the Bills, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. This left undrafted rookie free agent Joe Fagnano as the only healthy quarterback on the roster. Fagnano, who suffered an ankle injury in that same game, played through the pain in a loss to the Jaguars the following week.
Before his thumb injury, Jackson had demonstrated strong performance across the season. He completed 68 of his 97 pass attempts for 967 yards, throwing six touchdowns and one interception. On the ground, he rushed 19 times for 144 yards and one additional touchdown. The Ravens' offense appeared efficient and explosive during this period, featuring deep threats like Zay Flowers and power running by Derrick Henry. However, this dynamic version of the offense was visible for only about two full games due to various injuries, including Flowers missing time in the early weeks and Jackson sitting out the second half of Week 4.
In response to the quarterback crisis, the Ravens acquired former Arizona Cardinals starter Jacoby Brissett via trade. Brissett is expected to take over as the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. The team now hopes he can secure enough victories to position the Ravens for a potential playoff berth in the American Football Conference. This strategy also aims to set the stage for Jackson's possible return late in the season to join a playoff push.
Contractual considerations also loom large for the franchise. Jackson is currently in the final year of his five-year deal, with Baltimore retaining control over one more year. The 2027 portion of the contract is structured as an $84.3 million cap hit with no guaranteed money. According to Over the Cap, this figure would consume more than a quarter of Baltimore's projected 2027 salary cap space. This financial structure strongly suggests that a contract renegotiation will be necessary next year. Notably, Jackson handles his own business and contract negotiations, as he does not have a personal agent.
