Lamar Jackson thumb surgery will sideline the Baltimore Ravens quarterback on injured reserve, ending a return that lasted just one offensive play in Sunday’s 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Ravens head coach Jesse Minter confirmed after the game that Jackson needs surgery on his right thumb and will go on injured reserve, a move that guarantees at least four missed games and leaves Baltimore’s season at a crossroads.
Jackson had missed Baltimore’s previous three games with an ankle injury. His comeback ended on the Ravens’ first offensive snap in Buffalo, when his throwing hand struck Bills pass rusher Greg Rousseau as he released a pass. Jackson grabbed his hand, went to the sideline, and was quickly ruled out. He later returned to the sideline in the third quarter with a splint on his right thumb.
Lamar Jackson thumb surgery: what happened in Buffalo
The sequence was as abrupt as it was costly. Jackson threw an incomplete pass on the opening play, his hand made contact with Rousseau, and he immediately showed that his thumb was out of place before heading to the locker room. Baltimore did not get him back, and the Bills pulled away to win 36-10, improving to 6-1 while the Ravens fell to 4-4 with a third straight loss.
Minter did not hide the uncertainty that comes with the injury. Asked whether it could end Jackson’s season, he answered, “Potentially. We’ll see where it goes.” The team had not announced a surgery date or a recovery timeline as of Monday morning, so any return date beyond the injured-reserve minimum would be speculation. What is confirmed is the surgery, the injured-reserve move, and the minimum absence that comes with it.
The damage did not stop with Jackson. Backup Tyler Huntley replaced him but left in the second quarter with a right toe injury, and undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano finished the game, completing 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards with one interception. Baltimore, which had already been without its starting quarterback for three games, suddenly had to finish a game with its third quarterback — and now faces a short week with its depth chart in doubt.
Analysis: what Lamar Jackson thumb surgery means for the Ravens
This is the worst kind of injury news for a team that was already sliding. Baltimore has lost three straight games, and the offense had struggled badly without Jackson before Sunday. His return was supposed to steady the season; instead, the Ravens must now plan for at least four games without a two-time NFL MVP, starting with a Thursday night home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 5.
The immediate question is who starts Thursday. Huntley’s availability has not been announced, and Fagnano’s status after finishing Sunday’s game also needs to be watched in this week’s injury reports. Baltimore has until the November 10 NFL trade deadline to explore a more experienced addition, and free-agent and trade options have already been floated in reporting — but no signing or trade has been confirmed, so that remains a possibility to watch rather than a done deal.
For the longer term, the calendar matters. An injured-reserve stint means at least four missed games, and Baltimore’s Week 13 bye falls after that window, which pushes any realistic return discussion later into the season. That is the floor set by the injured-reserve rules, not a promised comeback date. Jackson still has to undergo surgery and be medically cleared, and Minter’s own “potentially” makes clear that Baltimore cannot yet rule out a season-ending outcome.
The Ravens are 4-4, not out of the race, but they are out of margin for error. They need a quarterback plan for Thursday, a steadier offense without their star, and a defense that can keep games close while the most important position on the team is in flux. Sunday in Buffalo showed how quickly a season can change on a single snap. The next few days will show whether Baltimore has an answer.
For more from Week 8, see our report on the Commanders’ 27-10 win over the Eagles, our report on the Lions ending the Vikings’ unbeaten run, and our report on the Eagles’ reported decision not to trade Saquon Barkley before the deadline.
Sources
- Reuters / Field Level Media report on Lamar Jackson’s thumb surgery and injured-reserve move.
- USA Today report on Lamar Jackson’s surgery and indefinite absence, sourcing ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
- Field Level Media report on Lamar Jackson’s thumb surgery and injured-reserve move.
- Ravens Wire report on the quarterbacks Baltimore could consider after Lamar Jackson’s injury.
