Lamar Jackson’s comeback from injury lasted all of one snap before he injured his thumb and was sent to injured reserve. The Ravens turned to Tyler Huntley, who has made a career of replacing injured starters, more specifically filling in for Jackson when he’s been out, but unfortunately, he too would have to leave the game due to injury. That forced Baltimore to turn to their emergency quarterback, rookie Joe Fagano, and the Ravens lost 36-10.
I believe this injury could mark not only the end of Jackson’s season but also the end of his time in Baltimore. Let’s get this out of the way: Jackson is one of, if not the best quarterbacks in the league when he’s healthy. He is 79-33 as a starter, has a 64.9 completion percentage, and has thrown for 23,575 yards, 193 touchdowns, and 57 interceptions. He has rushed for 6,666 yards and 56 touchdowns.
He’s also highly decorated, having won NFL MVP twice, once in 2019 and again in 2023. He’s been a First-team All-Pro three times, made four Pro Bowls, and led the league in passing touchdowns once. He’s a once-in-a-generation player, and the Ravens have been lucky to have him since drafting him 32nd overall in 2017.
However, the old saying goes, “The best ability is availability,” and Jackson is often not available. In 2021, he suffered an ankle injury and missed the final four games of the season; the Ravens missed the playoffs.
In 2022, he sprained his PCL and missed the final five regular-season games and the team’s playoff game against the Bengals, which they lost.
In 2025, he suffered a hamstring injury that hampered his play late in the season. This season, he already had an ankle injury that kept him out of three games, and now he has to undergo surgery on his throwing hand.
Part of the issue is that Jackson’s injuries always come with a lot of uncertainty. There is almost never a straight answer about when he will return to the field, and that doesn’t just extend to the fans. Last week, when Jackson missed the team’s game against the Bengals, CBS’ Tracy Wolfson said that his inability to play “came as a shock to the Ravens that Lamar couldn’t go.”
Jackson was also drafted by the previous coaching staff. Jesse Minter joined the Ravens after serving as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers for the previous two seasons. This is Minter’s first chance to be head coach, and I wonder if he wants to hitch his wagon to the often-injured Jackson.
This is also Jackson’s ninth year in the league, and he’s not going to get any younger. This might be the best time for Baltimore to explore trade options for the former MVP. I think the team is likely to struggle to keep pace in the AFC North with the Steelers, Bengals, and Browns, so it could get to the point where they shut Lamar down for the season. If they do, I expect a serious discussion about trading him.
Just today, Michael Irvin suggested that the Miami Dolphins could be potential suitors for a trade. In an ESPN appearance, he said Jackson would be an icon in South Beach.
“Lamar in Baltimore is an NFL superstar. Lamar in Miami is an international icon.”
We’ll see if this comes to fruition or another team jumps in, but I have a feeling this is it for Jackson with the Ravens.
