Lamar Jackson is not ready to call it a season. Within 24 hours of suffering a significant injury to his right thumb, the Baltimore Ravens quarterback was already telling teammates that he intends to return later this year, sources told NFL Network.
Jackson's message to the locker room could be summed up in three words: "Just stay alive." Those who spoke with the star quarterback described his words as "energizing" and "exciting," a striking shift in mood for a team that had previously feared his season was finished.
The two-time MVP is undergoing surgery to repair a fractured and dislocated thumb on his throwing hand, sources said. He was recently placed on injured reserve, but he has not been ruled out for the remainder of the year, and his comments to teammates make clear he believes a comeback is possible.
The standard recovery timeline for Jackson's injury is at least six weeks, though it could stretch to as many as nine. If his rehabilitation goes well, he could return by early January, provided Baltimore can stay in the playoff picture with Jacoby Brissett under center. The Ravens, who sit at 4-5, have their bye coming up in Week 13.
Jackson was hurt on Baltimore's first offensive snap of last Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. The three-time All-Pro had already missed the three games before that because of a high ankle sprain.
The schedule offers little relief down the stretch. The Ravens play their Week 16 game on Dec. 27 against the Cleveland Browns, followed by a quick four-day turnaround for a Thursday night matchup against the Bengals in Cincinnati. Baltimore closes the regular season at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18.
For now, the starting job belongs to Brissett, whom Baltimore acquired in a trade finalized on Friday. He is expected to start Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 16. While some around the league have wondered whether the Ravens would sell at the trade deadline, the addition of Brissett, paired with Jackson's determination to return, suggests hope is still alive in Baltimore.
The quarterback depth chart has been stretched thin. Tyler "Snoop" Huntley was also placed on injured reserve with a toe injury, and sources told NFL Network that Huntley is expected to miss the rest of the season. That left undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano to start Thursday's 33-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore's fourth consecutive defeat.
The offensive struggles have reached historic lows. The Ravens have been held under 14 points in four straight games, setting a team record for futility, and they have lost by 20 or more points in three consecutive games for the first time in the franchise's 31-year history.
