Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has reportedly told his teammates that he remains hopeful of returning to action before the end of the season, offering the struggling team a much-needed lift following his latest injury setback.
The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player had already missed three games because of a high ankle sprain before suffering a serious thumb injury during Baltimore’s opening offensive possession against the Buffalo Bills last week.
The injury initially raised fears that Jackson’s season was over.
However, ESPN NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday morning that the quarterback believes he could still return if the Ravens remain in contention for a playoff place.
Jackson reportedly encouraged his teammates to ‘just stay alive’ in the playoff race, leaving open the possibility of rejoining the team when the postseason begins in January.
Ravens Face Quarterback Crisis After Double Injury Blow
Jackson’s injury was made worse by another setback during the game against Buffalo, as backup quarterback Tyler ‘Snoop’ Huntley also suffered a season-ending injury.
With their first two quarterbacks unavailable, the Ravens moved quickly to address the situation by trading for NFL veteran Jacoby Brissett.
However, Brissett was not available in time for Baltimore’s Thursday night meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Consequently, third-choice quarterback Joe Fagnano was handed the starting role in the defeat.
Surgery Could Keep Jackson Out for Several Weeks
Jackson is expected to undergo surgery in the coming days to address a fractured and dislocated thumb on his right hand.
The typical recovery period for the injury is between six and nine weeks, meaning an early January return remains possible if his rehabilitation progresses as expected.
Such a comeback would depend on Baltimore remaining in the playoff race long enough for its star quarterback to return.
According to Rapoport, Jackson’s message to his teammates was described as both ‘energizing’ and ‘exciting’, particularly given the team’s difficult run of results.
Ravens Struggle to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
Baltimore, coached by Jesse Minter, have lost their last four games, with their most recent victory coming against the Atlanta Falcons in an overtime contest on October 12.
The Ravens currently have a 4-5 record and face a challenging finish to their regular-season campaign.
Their final four games will all be against AFC North rivals, with fixtures against the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers, whom they will face twice.
The team must improve its results if Jackson is to have an opportunity to return for the playoffs.
Jacoby Brissett Arrives After Losing Starting Role in Arizona
Brissett’s arrival in Baltimore follows a difficult period with the Arizona Cardinals, where he had become a leading candidate to be traded after being benched during a game against the Dallas Cowboys and subsequently dropping to third on the quarterback depth chart.
The 33-year-old started Arizona’s first eight games of the season, recording three wins and five defeats while completing 63.3 per cent of his passes.
His move to Baltimore will mark the seventh NFL team of his career, which is now in its 11th season.
Brissett Brings Extensive NFL Experience to Baltimore
The West Palm Beach native entered the NFL after being selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2016 Draft.
He won a Super Bowl during his rookie season as a backup to Tom Brady before being traded to the Indianapolis Colts.
Brissett subsequently served as Indianapolis’ starting quarterback in 2017 and 2019, later moving between starting and backup roles with the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Washington and New England before joining Arizona.
In March 2025, he signed a two-year contract worth $12.5 million with the Cardinals and appeared in 14 games during the previous season.
Although his contract was restructured to increase his compensation for the 2026 campaign, Brissett is scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the season unless he agrees to new terms with Baltimore.
