Lamar Jackson Headed to Injured Reserve With Thumb Injury That Could End His Season
Update: Jackson is headed to injured reserve with a right thumb injury that Jesse Minter said could "potentially" end his season. Baltimore, 4-4 after a 36-10 loss at Buffalo, plays Jacksonville on Thursday with its quarterback room depleted.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson injured his left ankle on the last offensive snap of the first half of Sunday's 24-18 win over Tennessee and did not play again. The team has not announced a diagnosis or the results of any tests.
How did it happen?
Titans defensive end Jermaine Johnson II sacked Jackson from behind and landed on the ankle. Jackson limped off, stayed on the sideline in uniform for the second half and left the field with 4:41 to play. He had completed 15 of 20 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, the fourth-most first-half passing yards of his career.
How did Baltimore finish?
Tyler Huntley, who went 2-0 as a fill-in starter last season, took over with a 24-7 lead and the Ravens did not score again. Baltimore also had cornerback Marlon Humphrey, right guard Andrew Vorhees and tight end Durham Smythe ruled out during the game, on top of being without both centers and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. The Ravens are 3-1.
Will he play in Week 5?
Unknown. "I don't know the chances yet," Minter said Monday, with the team still gathering imaging. "I really don't think it's going to be crazy long-term, but we'll see what happens." Jackson wore a protective boot on his left foot leaving the stadium. Tyler Huntley, who is 5-6 as a fill-in starter for Baltimore, would start if Jackson can't.
How did Baltimore manage without him?
Huntley completed 13 of his last 14 passes, tied the game with a 7-yard touchdown to Devontez Walker with about 40 seconds left, converted two third downs in overtime and scored on a 1-yard sneak to end a 14-play drive, the longest overtime touchdown drive in the league in eight years. The eight-point fourth-quarter comeback was Baltimore's largest without Jackson in 11 years. "He doesn't really get rattled," Jesse Minter said. The Ravens are 4-1 and visit Cleveland on Sunday, and Huntley is expected to start again if Jackson is not cleared.
Will he play in Week 6?
Undecided. He missed Wednesday's and Thursday's practices, and Minter has said he could start without practicing. "To Lamar's credit, he's working his butt off," Minter said. Before the injury Jackson had an 80.3 Total QBR, second in the league. Baltimore has won three straight without him dating to last season and would tie the best start in franchise history at 5-1 with a win.
Is he back for the Bengals?
Undecided. Jackson took part in some team drills Wednesday after missing two games and six practices, and Jesse Minter said he "was able to get in a little bit of work and be involved in preparation." He walked into the facility with a noticeable limp. "There's nobody that wants to be out there more than Lamar," Minter said. Baltimore has scored 116 points in 14 quarters with Jackson this season and 40 in 10 quarters without him.
Will he play against the Bengals?
It is a game-time decision. "Right now, I'm heading in the right direction," Jackson said. "If I can just go out there and feel the pain a little bit, I can play. But if I'm restricted and I can't do what I do, I'm not helping nobody." He described the original injury as "very, very, very, very, very painful." Jesse Minter said the decision will turn on "how he feels and how effective he feels like he can be." Tyler Huntley starts if Jackson cannot.
What happened against Cincinnati, and what's next?
Jackson was listed as questionable and ruled out the day before the game; a CBS broadcast reported he woke up Saturday with more swelling, which Minter declined to confirm. Baltimore has lost two straight and is 4-3, last in the AFC North, averaging 17.7 points over the three games without him. Minter said Jackson has to be "healthy enough to play and play the way that obviously we feel like he needs to play." CBS' Tracy Wolfson reported Minter told her Jackson would play against the Bills; the team has not confirmed it.
What is the thumb injury, and who plays Thursday?
Jackson missed a fourth straight game Sunday and is out Thursday against Jacksonville. He has not had surgery, so there is no firm timeline; Minter said a clearer one could come this week. Joe Fagnano, who started at Buffalo and went 10 of 21 for 91 yards, has an ankle injury but was limited in Monday's walk-through, and Minter said to "expect him to have a chance to play on Thursday." Tyler Huntley (toe) is ruled out, and Austin Reed, signed to the practice squad Monday, is the only fully healthy quarterback. Baltimore has lost three straight and is last in the AFC North.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: Lamar Jackson injures ankle during Ravens' win over Titans
- ESPN: Ravens unsure if Lamar Jackson (ankle) will play vs. Falcons
- ESPN: QB Tyler Huntley leads Ravens to comeback OT win vs. Falcons
- ESPN: Source: Lamar Jackson has realistic chance to play Ravens' Week 6 game at Browns
- ESPN: Ravens' Lamar Jackson returns to practice but status remains unclear vs. Bengals
- ESPN: Ravens' Lamar Jackson (high ankle sprain) unsure if he'll play
- ESPN: Ravens' Jesse Minter optimistic QB Lamar Jackson can return vs. Bills
- ESPN: Ravens QB Joe Fagnano has chance to play Thursday, per Jesse Minter
Baltimore Ravens betting odds
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