Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter put the guessing game to rest Friday. Lamar Jackson will play Sunday in Buffalo, ending a three-game absence caused by the high left ankle sprain he suffered in the Week 4 win over the Tennessee Titans.
That’s a welcome change from the mood in Owings Mills a week ago. Jackson was limited all of last week, went into Saturday as a 50/50 call and was ruled out that afternoon. This week, he was a full practice participant Wednesday and Thursday.
Baltimore needs him badly.
What Lamar Jackson’s return means for Baltimore
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The Ravens went 3-1 with Jackson under center and averaged 29 points per game, even though he didn’t finish the last of those four starts. In Tyler Huntley’s three starts, the offense averaged 17.7 points. Baltimore won in overtime at Atlanta, then lost 13-10 to the Browns and 35-13 to the Bengals, sliding from 4-1 to 4-3 and into last place in the AFC North.
Jackson was playing as well as any quarterback in the league when he got hurt. He completed 70.8% of his passes for 967 yards with six touchdown passes, one interception and 10.1 yards per attempt. His 91.4 overall PFF grade still leads 35 qualified quarterbacks, along with an 85.5 passing grade and a 90.9 rushing grade, though that comes on just 113 dropbacks.
“It’s going to be a big boost [if he plays],” left tackle Ronnie Stanley said Wednesday. “Lamar is the best player in the NFL. We all know how good of a player he is, but we also don’t want to rely on him having to carry us as a team.”
Stanley has a point. Jackson’s return won’t solve Derrick Henry’s short-yardage slump on its own, and the Ravens have problems that go beyond the quarterback spot, including rookie guard Vega Ioane working back from a knee sprain.
Rust is the other question. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said Thursday the staff has tried to make practice as game-like as possible for Jackson.
“You take a guy out of that flow that he was in, you’ve got to be very aware of that,” Doyle told reporters. “He hasn’t played football in a little bit.”
Baltimore gets its two-time MVP back. Now it needs him sharp from the first snap.
More on the Baltimore Ravens
- Baltimore Ravens Appear on Track to Get Their Missing Offensive Element Back
- Could Mark Andrews Take Advantage Of Opportunity Against Bills?
- How Could Kyle Hamilton’s Absence Impact Baltimore’s Defense
- Ravens Make Lamar Jackson Move Before Bills Game
