Full Breakdown
Lamar Jackson’s Limited Return Raises Stakes Ahead of Ravens-Bengals Showdown
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson suffered a left-ankle sprain on Oct. 4 during the win over the Tennessee Titans. The injury forced him to miss two games and practices. On the Wednesday before the Week 7 divisional clash with the Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson participated in a limited capacity, prompting a “day-by-day” assessment of his availability for Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.
Background & Context
Jackson’s ankle injury marked the first time the two-time NFL MVP has been sidelined this season. In his four appearances before the injury, he completed 70.8 % of his passes for 967 yards, six touchdowns, one interception, and added 144 rushing yards (7.6 yd/carry) with a 119.6 passer rating. The Ravens are 4-2, tied atop the AFC North, while the Bengals (3-2) return from a bye. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley has gone 1-1 in Jackson’s absence, posting a 19-of-31 passing line for 165 yards and a touchdown against Cleveland.
Data & Statistics
| Metric | Lamar Jackson (2026) | Tyler Huntley (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Pass completions / attempts | 68 / 96 (70.8 %) | 51 / 72 (70.8 %) |
| Passing yards | 967 | 429 |
| TD / INT | 6 / 1 | 3 / 0 |
| Rushing yards | 144 (7.6 yd/carry) | 28 (5.6 yd/carry) |
| Passer rating | 119.6 | 101.2 (approx.) |
| Team record with starter | 3-1 | 1-1 |
Jackson is 11-3 all-time against the Bengals and 11-2 in regular-season meetings since 2018.
Official Statements & Responses
- Bengals head coach Zac Taylor: “I don’t think anybody replaces Lamar just one for one, but Tyler does a great job. I don’t feel like they have to change anything that they’re really doing.”
On-the-Ground Reports
Jackson was absent from the media-visible portion of practice but later joined team drills.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
It is unclear whether Jackson’s limited participation occurred before or after the media viewing window, leaving his exact level of activity ambiguous.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Again, it’s a day-by-day thing, but he was able to get a little bit of work in and be involved in the preparation.” — Jesse Minter, head coach
- “Any time he's out there, it kind of elevates the whole group,” — Declan Doyle, offensive coordinator
- “There's nobody that wants to be out there more than Lamar,” — Jesse Minter, head coach
What’s Next
- The Ravens will hold a final practice on Friday before the Oct 25 kickoff at 1 p.m. ET.
- An updated injury report on Wednesday will indicate whether Jackson’s status changes from “limited” to “cleared.”
- If Jackson is unavailable, Huntley is slated for his third consecutive start against a Bengals defense that has been strong against the run.