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OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter voiced hope that quarterback Lamar Jackson could be back under center for Sunday's pivotal matchup with the Buffalo Bills, but he stopped short of guaranteeing that the two-time NFL MVP will start.
Jackson has been sidelined for three straight games due to a high ankle sprain, including Baltimore's 35-13 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
"I think he was able to get in a little bit of work obviously towards the end of last week," Minter told reporters on Monday. "And so I think he'll be in a decent spot, but we'll know a lot more on Wednesday."
Last week, Jackson appeared to be moving toward a return after being a limited participant in every practice. However, despite being listed as questionable, he was ultimately ruled out by the team a day later.
Minter would not confirm a report that surfaced during the CBS broadcast of the game, which stated that Jackson experienced increased swelling in his injured left ankle upon waking on Saturday, leading to his removal from the lineup.
"So look, 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," Minter said.
In Jackson's absence, the Ravens (4-3) have turned to Tyler "Snoop" Huntley as the starting quarterback, but the results have been disappointing. Baltimore has dropped two consecutive games and currently sits in last place in the AFC North.
Over the past three weeks without Jackson, the Ravens' offense has averaged just 17.7 points per game (24th in the NFL) and 328.3 total yards per game (20th).
Minter, however, was careful not to pin the offense's inconsistencies solely on Jackson's absence.
"Lamar's 1 of 1, right? Two-time MVP, obviously a high-caliber player, but I just don't like the built-in excuse of why things are going a certain way," Minter said. "So while we know the caliber of player Lamar is and the numbers when he's out there versus when he's not, we —"
Key Analysis
The Ravens find themselves in a precarious position as they await word on their franchise quarterback. With Jackson's status still uncertain, Baltimore must prepare for the possibility of another start by Huntley, who has struggled to generate consistent offense. The team's playoff hopes could hinge on Jackson's health, and Wednesday's practice report will provide the first significant clue about his availability for a critical road test against the Bills.
Originally reported by players_bio.