Lamar Jackson is back in the picture. The Baltimore Ravens quarterback was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, offering a glimmer of hope for a Week 7 return against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Jesse Minter provided an update on Jackson’s ankle rehab after practice.
“Lamar was actually able to get a little bit of limited work in today in preparation,” Minter said. “It’s a day-by-day thing … There’s nobody that wants to be out there more than Lamar. Lamar wants to play. But at the same time, you gotta be healthy enough.”
Jackson wasn’t in uniform, but he was out there. And while reports labeled him with a limp, it didn’t appear pronounced, and he reportedly looked okay in the locker room.
He should still be considered a long shot given he missed six straight practices and has yet to be a full participant.
For a Ravens team desperate for its quarterback back, that’s at least something to build on. It’s a start.
Baltimore Ravens are one step closer to getting Lamar Jackson back
In a perfect world, Lamar Jackson is back for Baltimore’s Week 7 clash with the Bengals. They need him. Tyler Huntley has done a decent job in his place, but last week exposed the flaws in his game and the rushing attack. Without Jackson, they’re vulnerable.
And looking at the road ahead, Huntley wouldn’t give the Ravens too much hope. Despite showing he can lead a competitive group, the Bengals, Buffalo Bills, and Jacksonville Jaguars could easily overpower them. The QB talent would be significantly lacking if they had to take the field with Huntley across from Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, and Trevor Lawrence.
For Cincinnati specifically, that’s a high-powered offense that always gives Baltimore problems. Huntley’s 0-1 in his career vs. the Bengals, coming in the playoffs where he had a costly goal-line fumble that was returned for six. I’m not exactly sure he’d keep up with them if he gets the ball on Sunday.
With Jackson, though? The offense can be borderline unstoppable, especially if everyone’s healthy. He’s a combined 16-7 against those franchises, and in 2026, he got off to one of the best starts of his career, posting a 70.8% completion rate, 967 yards, and 7 total touchdowns to 1 interception through three and a half weeks.
Unfortunately, the hard truth is: the two-time MVP is in a tough spot. Wednesday marked his first on-field work since he sprained his ankle 17 days ago, and ankle injuries are notoriously tricky to pinpoint.
Recovery is filled with an unpredictable mix of good and bad days. The swelling fluctuates wildly, meaning the area can feel good one day and feel incredibly stiff the next. After logging a limited practice, the coming days could be very telling for Jackson as his ankle responds to Wednesday’s action.
If Jackson practices on Thursday and Friday, he’ll be in a good spot. For now, though, fans may want to err on the side of cautious optimism.
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