The Baltimore Ravens have placed Lamar Jackson on injured reserve, with the star quarterback set to undergo thumb surgery this week and miss at least four weeks. The news is a crushing blow for a Ravens side already sitting at 4-4 and in the AFC North cellar.
How the crisis unfolded
Jackson injured his right thumb on the first play of Baltimore’s Week 8 matchup with the Buffalo Bills and did not return. Backup Tyler Huntley came in and suffered a season-ending turf-toe injury, leaving undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano as the last man standing. Jackson’s surgery and the four-week minimum absence mean the Ravens must navigate a critical stretch of the season without their franchise quarterback.
A season on the brink
Baltimore entered the season tied with Buffalo for the second-best odds to win the Super Bowl at +1000, according to DraftKings. Now they are 4-4, have lost three straight games, and are starting a rookie who went 10-for-21 for 91 yards last week. The Ravens remain within reach of the AFC North race, but only just, and every game without Jackson feels like a mountain to climb.
The numbers show how far Baltimore have fallen. The Ravens entered the season tied with Buffalo for the second-best odds to win the Super Bowl at +1000, but they are now 4-4 and have lost three straight games. Jackson’s absence, with a minimum of four weeks on injured reserve, means the Ravens must navigate a critical stretch without their franchise quarterback. The Brissett trade offers hope, but until it is completed at the weekend, the season rests on a rookie making his first career start on Thursday night.
The Ravens’ season now rests on a rookie quarterback and a veteran running back. Henry’s 632 yards and eight touchdowns give Baltimore a foundation, but Thursday night against the NFL’s best run defence is a brutal assignment for Fagnano. The Brissett trade offers hope, but until it is completed at the weekend, the Ravens must find a way to win with what they have.
What comes next
The Ravens are finalising a trade for veteran Jacoby Brissett from Arizona, but that deal is not expected to be completed until the weekend. Until then, Fagnano starts Thursday night against Jacksonville, and the Ravens’ season hangs in the balance. Jackson’s absence will test the depth, the coaching and the character of a team that was supposed to be chasing a championship.
