Ravens make Lamar Jackson injury call with nightmare season slipping away

Lamar Jackson is out again this weekend. 

Despite hopes that the star quarterback could return from a hamstring injury after Baltimore’s bye week, the Ravens ruled out Jackson for Sunday’s game against the Bears. 

Jackson had been listed as a full participant in Friday’s practice, but was downgraded to limited on Saturday when the team made the announcement on his status for Week 8.

Tyler Huntley will start for Baltimore in place of Cooper Rush, who struggled as the starter over the Ravens’ last two contests in Jackson’s absence, throwing for four interceptions without a touchdown pass. 

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sits on the bench after being replaced by Cooper Rush during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. AP

Jackson returned to practice earlier this week for the first time since suffering a strained hamstring in Baltimore’s 37-20 loss to the Chiefs on Sept. 28. 

The Athletic reported that Jackson took the field on Wednesday about 20 minutes into the Ravens’ practice and could be seen running around and tossing some warm-up throws. 

That day, Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters he has “no shareable injury intelligence” when asked about whether Jackson would play Sunday.

Jackson ran with the scout team on Friday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, indicating that he was trending toward missing Sunday’s game. 

Rapoport reported that Jackson “plans to return” when the Ravens play the Dolphins on Thursday night.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) throws a pass during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Sitting at 1-5 heading into Week 8, the Ravens are entering must-win territory if they want to make a playoff run. 

Baltimore has struggled when Jackson is sidelined since he took over the starting job in 2019, going 4-12 in 16 games. 

In the two games without Jackson this season, the Ravens’ offense has struggled big time, getting outscored 61-13 in losses to the Texans and Rams.

Jackson had looked like his MVP-like self before going down in late September, completing 68-of-95 passes for 869 yards and 10 touchdowns — in addition to 166 yards and a touchdown on the ground.