Baltimore’s star quarterback finally returned from injury Sunday. His comeback lasted one play.
Lamar Jackson will have surgery on his injured right thumb and will be placed on injured reserve after getting hurt on his first snap of a 36 to 10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, the Ravens head coach said.
How did Lamar Jackson get hurt?
Jackson had missed the previous three games with a high sprain in his left ankle. On his first throw Sunday, his right hand struck the hand of Bills linebacker Greg Rousseau, who was trying to knock down the pass.
Lamar Jackson walked off the field with a visibly misshapen thumb and was soon ruled out. A Ravens safety called the timing cruel.
Asked whether the injury could end his season, the coach said potentially, but that the team would see where it stands. He declined to say whether the thumb is broken or dislocated.
Right tackle Roger Rosengarten, who was blocking Rousseau on the play, said he needed to give Lamar Jackson more space and blamed himself for the injury.
Who will play quarterback for Baltimore?
The Ravens are not sure. Backup Tyler Huntley left in the second quarter with a right toe injury believed to be turf toe and was set to have an MRI on Monday, according to reports.
Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano finished the game, completing 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards with an interception. He fell to the ground holding his left knee after a hit by Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who was flagged for roughing the passer, but said he thinks he will be ready Thursday.
The coach said the team would decide by Monday whether to sign another quarterback before Thursday night’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It was the first time since the 2017 Dallas Cowboys that three quarterbacks threw a pass for one team in a first half. Baltimore finished with 68 net passing yards, its fewest in nine years.
How do the Ravens fare without Lamar Jackson?
Not well. Baltimore has won seven games and lost 14 since 2019 when Jackson does not start, averaging 17.6 points. This season, the Ravens have scored six touchdowns in 18 quarters without him.
Huntley did lead a comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons earlier this season while Jackson was out. That game came while Jackson was sidelined by the ankle injury.
What does this mean for Baltimore’s season?
The Ravens, who entered the season among the favorites to win the Super Bowl, have lost three straight and fallen to four wins and four losses, last in the AFC North and two games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Lamar Jackson will miss at least four games, against the Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers at home and at the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans.
The coach, in his first season, said it is his job to keep the team together and believe in the next man up. A Ravens linebacker said the injury hurts, but the season is not over.
What does this mean for Lamar Jackson’s future?
Jackson, who has won two MVP awards, is set to enter the final year of his contract in 2027 with a salary cap hit of about $84.3 million. The sides did not reach an extension this offseason, though the team has expressed optimism about a deal.
If no agreement is reached, Baltimore could explore a trade, but Jackson’s contract gives him the power to approve any deal. The contract also bars the team from using the franchise tag on him. For now, Lamar Jackson faces surgery and an uncertain end to his season.
