Lamar Jackson has missed the last three games with an ankle injury, and despite some seriously optimistic vibes from Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter, the team is staring down an 0-2 divisional record, sitting dead last in the AFC North. Worse, there’s still no real timeline for their star quarterback’s return. This isn’t just a bump in the road, this is the kind of early season hole that can sink a squad, especially with a huge AFC showdown against the Buffalo Bills coming up on Sunday.
Optimism vs. The Cold Hard Truth About That Ankle
Coach Minter was out there Monday, telling reporters Jackson is “working his butt off to be back and be out there.” He even said Lamar “was able to get in a little bit of work obviously toward the end of last week,” and that he thinks Jackson “will be in a decent spot,” promising more info by Wednesday. Sounds good, right? Not so fast. ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped a dose of reality, reporting the team is “hopeful” he’ll be back, but straight up said, “the truth of the matter is, only Lamar Jackson knows when he’ll be back.” Ouch. Schefter also pointed out a pattern, noting Jackson missed three games last year at this time with a hamstring injury, and now it’s three games in October with a high-ankle sprain. Remember, Jackson even practiced a bit before the Cincinnati Bengals game but then didn’t play. Minter had previously called Jackson “day-to-day,” while Lamar himself clarified it was a high ankle sprain stopping him from running. That’s a communication gap, or maybe just the fog of war in injury reports. Minter’s stance now: “When the player is healthy enough to play, they’ll play.”
Huntley’s Stint and the Divisional Disaster
While Jackson has been sidelined, Tyler Huntley stepped in. He actually led the team to a solid win over the Atlanta Falcons. But things quickly went south in crucial AFC North matchups, with losses to the Cleveland Browns and the Bengals. Those division losses hit different, don’t they? They’re why Baltimore is now 4-3 overall, but a brutal 0-2 in the division, putting them squarely in last place. That’s the real gut punch here. You cannot be losing divisional games if you want to make any noise in the AFC.
What’s Next: Bills and the Playoff Race
The Ravens are clearly in a tough spot heading into their Sunday game against the Buffalo Bills. With that 0-2 divisional record, they desperately need Jackson back and at his best if they’re going to be a serious factor in the AFC playoff race. Schefter said “everybody’s hopeful he can be back in time for Sunday’s game,” and there’s a general sense his return will be “sooner rather than later,” but that uncertainty is still hanging heavy in the air. We’ll be watching Wednesday’s updates closely, because Baltimore needs their MVP back on the field, like, yesterday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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