Lamar Jackson's Ankle Could Swing the AFC North Away From the Ravens Starting Sunday

Lamar Jackson was limited in practice this week as the Bengals come to Baltimore, and a Cincinnati win would leave the Ravens chasing in the AFC North.

by Bryce Lazenby

Oct 23, 2026

Lamar Jackson was limited in practice this week as the Bengals come to Baltimore, and a Cincinnati win would leave the Ravens chasing in the AFC North.

Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Baltimore has spent most of October reading injury reports before standings, and one national voice thinks that habit is justified. Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon picked the Cincinnati Bengals to win the AFC North and said Lamar Jackson’s availability and effectiveness after his ankle injury “could be major factors” in what has become a pivotal division game for the Ravens on Sunday.

Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Baltimore all sit at 4-2, with Cincinnati at 3-2. Neither the Ravens nor the Bengals has a division win yet. Cincinnati is coming off its bye, and Gagnon noted the Bengals have the league’s easiest remaining schedule, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. A road win would move Cincinnati toward control of the division.

Ravens offense changes without Lamar Jackson

Oct 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (5) looks to pass as guard John Simpson (74) and guard Vega Ioane (71) defend in the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns
at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

Jackson has completed 68 of 96 passes for 967 yards, six touchdown passes and one interception, with a 119.6 passer rating and 144 rushing yards. With him on the field, Baltimore scored 116 points and 14 offensive touchdowns in 14 quarters, while the Ravens managed 40 points and four touchdowns in 10 quarters without him, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley reported. Tyler Huntley won in overtime at Atlanta, but the offense went quiet after the first quarter of a 13-10 loss in Cleveland that left Baltimore with questions.

Jackson was limited Wednesday and Thursday, his first practice work since spraining his left ankle Oct. 4 against Tennessee. If he can’t go, Huntley would make his third straight start.

“Lamar wants to play. But at the same time, you have to be healthy enough to play,” Ravens head coach Jesse Minter told reporters Wednesday.

The defense has to hold up either way. Kyle Hamilton carries an 86.8 PFF grade, fourth among 98 qualified safeties, and leads all safeties with 18 stops. Trey Hendrickson, facing his former team, leads Baltimore with 20 pressures and has two sacks, and teammates have high expectations for him. Team sack leader Tavius Robinson (3.5) did not practice Wednesday or Thursday with a pectoral injury, which thins out a pass rush that stalled early.

History explains why Jackson’s ankle carries so much weight. Since 2018, the Ravens are 11-2 against Cincinnati with Jackson and 0-3 without him, including the playoffs. A fourth loss in that column would hand the Bengals the head start Gagnon expects.