Lamar Jackson Ravens Playoffs News: Thumb Timeline Could Bring Him Back for the Stretch Run
The latest Lamar Jackson Ravens playoffs news is better than fans expected, but it comes with a condition. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Jackson fractured and dislocated his right thumb and will miss six to nine weeks. Jackson has told teammates he plans to return this season, as long as the Ravens are still alive.
Baltimore is 4-5 and last in the AFC North. Our take: the question isn’t whether Jackson can come back. It’s whether there will be a season to come back to.
What we know about Jackson’s thumb
Status: Confirmed unless noted
Jackson hurt his right thumb on Baltimore’s first offensive play Nov. 1 at Buffalo. The Ravens placed him on injured reserve before Thursday’s game, which means he’ll miss at least four games, per Ravens.com. Coach Jesse Minter declined to say Thursday whether Jackson had undergone surgery.
Rapoport reported Sunday that Jackson fractured and dislocated the thumb, had surgery, and is expected out six to nine weeks (Reported). Rapoport and ESPN also reported that Jackson told teammates to “just stay alive,” meaning he plans to play again this season (Reported).
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said Brissett was told Jackson could return late in the season and sees his job as a five-to-six-game run (Reported). NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Jackson’s chances depend on his recovery and on whether Brissett can keep Baltimore in the playoff picture (Reported).
When could Jackson return?
Status: Reported, with our math
Rapoport’s six-to-nine-week window, counted from the Nov. 1 injury, gives these possibilities. The Ravens finish with four straight AFC North games, and Ravens.com noted that the short end of the window could put Jackson back for the start of that stretch and the long end for the finale.
| Window | Game | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Six weeks (earliest) | vs. Tampa Bay | Dec. 13 |
| Start of the division stretch | at Pittsburgh | Dec. 20 |
| Middle of the window | vs. Cleveland | Dec. 27 |
| Late window | at Cincinnati | Dec. 31 (Thursday) |
| Nine weeks | vs. Pittsburgh (flex-scheduled) | Jan. 10 |
Where the Ravens stand
Status: Confirmed
Baltimore is 4-5, has lost four straight, and is 2.5 games behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North, per Athlon. Pittsburgh was 6-2 on a bye in Week 9, and Cincinnati beat Carolina 42-21. The Ravens are three games back in the loss column of both, per CBS Sports.
The offense is the problem. The Ravens have scored fewer than 14 points in four straight games, a franchise first, per Yahoo Sports. By our math, they scored 43 points total in those four games: 10 at Cleveland, 13 against Cincinnati, 10 at Buffalo and 10 against Jacksonville. They started 4-1.
Minter said after Thursday’s loss that the team hasn’t abandoned its postseason hopes. Ronnie Stanley said the team isn’t throwing in the towel.
Ravens schedule: what’s next
- Monday, Nov. 16: vs. the Chargers, 8:15 p.m. ET.
- Sunday, Nov. 22: at Carolina.
- Sunday, Nov. 29: at Houston.
- Sunday, Dec. 13: vs. Tampa Bay (the Ravens have no game Dec. 6).
Los Angeles was 0-7 after a loss to the Rams on Nov. 1, per ClutchPoints. Athlon wrote that anything less than a win in that game would shift the conversation to the draft.
Our take: the Chargers game is the one the Ravens can’t lose. Minter also coached the Chargers’ defense last year, so he knows their staff well.
Can Jacoby Brissett keep the season alive?
Status: Reported
Brissett is 33. He completed 63.3% of his passes for 1,719 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions in Arizona, per NFL.com. Arizona started him in its first eight games, he went 3-5, and he was benched midway through Week 8.
The Ravens sent Arizona a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 seventh-round pick for Brissett and a 2027 fifth-round pick. He’s slated to start against the Chargers with 11 days to prepare.
Not everyone is optimistic. Yahoo Sports wrote that Brissett was demoted for a reason and probably won’t save the season. PressBox called him hardly a savior but said the Ravens needed a quarterback who can run a competent offense.
Our take: Brissett’s job is simple. Win enough games that Jackson’s return still matters.
Baltimore Ravens injury report: other statuses
- Kyle Hamilton (hip): ruled out Thursday; no diagnosis announced.
- Tyler Huntley (turf toe): out for the season, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
- Tyler Loop (groin): injured reserve.
Should the Ravens rush Jackson back?
Status: Opinion
There are two sides. Some fans want Jackson back the moment he’s cleared, because he’s a two-time MVP and the offense has scored 43 points in four games without him. Others say that with the season on the line, there’s no reason to risk a thumb that just had surgery.
Our take: don’t rush him. If Baltimore is within a game of a wild-card spot by mid-December, bring him back for the stretch run. If it’s out of the race, the thumb matters more than a few meaningless games.
Our prediction: Jackson returns in the Dec. 20 game at Pittsburgh if the Ravens are still in the race. This is a prediction, not a certainty.
Lamar Jackson Ravens playoffs news FAQ
What is the latest Lamar Jackson Ravens playoffs news? Rapoport reported that Jackson fractured and dislocated his right thumb, had surgery and will miss six to nine weeks. He told teammates he plans to return if the Ravens are still alive.
How long will Lamar Jackson be out? Six to nine weeks, per Rapoport. He is on injured reserve, which means at least four games.
When could Lamar Jackson return? The earliest possible dates are Dec. 13 against Tampa Bay or Dec. 20 at Pittsburgh. The longest window points to the Jan. 10 finale against Pittsburgh.
Can the Ravens still make the playoffs? Yes, but it’s difficult. They are 4-5, last in the AFC North and three games back in the loss column of Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
Who starts at quarterback for the Ravens against the Chargers? Jacoby Brissett is slated to start Monday, Nov. 16.
Bottom line
The latest Lamar Jackson Ravens playoffs news gives Baltimore a reason to keep fighting, but only if the team wins in the meantime. Would you rush Jackson back for a December push, or protect his thumb if the playoff window closes? Tell us in the comments.
