foxnews
The Baltimore Ravens provided an update on Friday regarding Lamar Jackson's recovery from surgery to repair a broken and dislocated thumb, but the news was not encouraging. After facing criticism for head coach Jesse Minter's reticence to disclose details about the procedure or the expected recovery timeline, the team released a statement from Minter addressing the situation.
In short, Jackson is expected to be out for 6 to 10 weeks.
Jackson sustained the severe injury to his throwing hand on the first play of the Week 8 game against the Buffalo Bills on November 1. He underwent surgery to fix the issue that same week, sources told OutKick and Fox News Digital.
Doing the calendar math: six weeks from November 1 would be December 13, which is Week 14 of the NFL's 18-week regular season. That represents the most optimistic scenario for Jackson's return. However, it may also be the least likely, as recovering from surgery on a quarterback's throwing hand is challenging; after healing, strength and flexibility must be regained.
On the other end, a 10-week recovery would mean Jackson misses the rest of the regular season and would not be ready until around January 10, which is approximately when the NFL's wild card round of the playoffs begins. The NFL has not yet announced the actual dates for postseason games.
This situation has significant implications. At worst, the Ravens must perform well enough over the remainder of the season to make the playoffs in order for Jackson to return to the lineup. Realistically, that appears unlikely. It's not that Jackson can't get ready to play again; rather, there may be no postseason game for him to prepare for, as the Ravens have lost four consecutive games, sit in last place in the AFC North, and are currently outside the playoff picture.
Additionally, the team traded this week for journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett to start until Jackson returns. However, Brissett's career record as a starting quarterback is 23-50, which is not promising.
Consider the optimistic outlook: Jackson returning by mid-December. The Ravens have three games between now and December 13 because they have a bye in Week 13. Can the team remain relevant in the next three games by ending a four-game losing streak and keeping pace with the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns in the division? That is the key question.
"[Jackson] is doing everything he can to get back, and we will let his progress guide the timing of his return," Minter said in the team's statement released on Friday. "We are committed to playing our best football over the second half of the season." The Ravens will need to do exactly that for Jackson's return timeline to matter at all.
Key Analysis
Jackson's absence places immense pressure on the Ravens to stay competitive in a crowded AFC North. With a 6-10 week recovery window, the earliest he could return is Week 14, but a 10-week timeline would sideline him until the playoffs—if Baltimore even qualifies. The team's recent struggles and Brissett's subpar career record make the road ahead daunting. The Ravens must rally without their star quarterback to keep their season alive and give Jackson a chance to return to a meaningful game.
Originally reported by foxnews.