Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter expressed optimism on Monday that quarterback Lamar Jackson could be available for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills. Jackson has missed the past three games with a high ankle sprain, but Minter believes the two-time NFL MVP is trending in the right direction.
Lamar Jackson (Credits: ESPN)
Speaking to reporters, Minter said Jackson is working hard to get back on the field, and that he managed to get some work in toward the end of last week. The key checkpoint, Minter stressed, will be Wednesday, when the Ravens resume practice and get a clearer read on how the ankle responds.
Lamar Jackson Return vs Bills: What Minter Actually Said
“Lamar’s working his butt off to be back and be out there,” Minter said. “I think he was able to get in a little bit of work obviously toward the end of last week. So I think he’ll be in a decent spot, but we’ll know a lot more on Wednesday.”
That cautious wording matters, because Ravens fans have heard optimistic updates before in this saga. Jackson was a limited participant in every practice last week and seemed to be trending toward playing against the Cincinnati Bengals, only to be ruled out a day after being listed as questionable. Baltimore went on to lose that game 35-13, falling to 4-3 and last place in the AFC North.
Minter declined to confirm a report from the CBS broadcast that Jackson woke up Saturday with increased swelling in his injured left ankle, which led to him being scratched. He described a report that the team was shocked by the late scratch as a slight mischaracterisation, explaining that the plan was always to see how the ankle felt on Saturday after Friday’s work.
“When the player is healthy enough to play, they’ll play,” Minter said. “If he’s able to play, that’s healthy enough to play and play the way that obviously we feel like he needs to play, then he will play.”
Why the Bills Game Matters So Much for Baltimore
Jackson suffered the high ankle sprain in Week 4 against the Tennessee Titans and has not logged a full practice since. In his absence, fill-in starter Tyler Huntley has gone 1-2, and the Ravens have averaged just 17.7 points per game over the past three weeks.
Before the injury, Jackson was playing at an elite level, completing 70.8 percent of his passes for 967 yards, six touchdowns and one interception in four games, while adding 144 rushing yards and a score on the ground. Losing that dual-threat production has coincided with back-to-back defeats and a slide down the standings.
Minter, however, refused to use Jackson’s absence as a built-in excuse for the offence’s inconsistency. “Lamar’s 1 of 1, right? Two-time MVP, obviously a high-calibre player,” he said. “But we can still operate better in those times where we don’t have him for sure.”
Sunday’s trip to Buffalo is a critical test either way. A win with Jackson back would steady Baltimore’s season, while another loss without him would deepen the hole in a tight AFC North race. For now, all eyes are on Wednesday’s practice report.
Also Read: NFL Week 7 Inactives: Baker Mayfield Set to Return, Lamar Jackson and Puka Nacua Questionable | NFL Week 6 Inactives: Caleb Williams Expected to Play While Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson Ruled Out
Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
