Earlier this week, Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter declined to confirm or deny whether Ravens starting quarterback Lamar Jackson suffered a fracture in the thumb on his throwing hand when he injured the thumb back on Nov. 1.
On Friday morning, Minter released an update on Jackson’s condition via a message shared on the team’s website.
Lamar Jackson out for over a month
“Lamar is doing well as he recovers from the broken and dislocated thumb injury he suffered in Week 8,” Minter wrote. “Recovery timelines are challenging to predict, but injuries like this that require surgery typically take about 6-10 weeks to heal.”
A previous report suggested that the Ravens could possibly get Jackson back for their Week 16 home game against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 27. Minter’s timeline would indicate that is at least a possibility.
Ahead of last weekend, the Ravens officially acquired journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals. Brissett is on track to start when 4-5 Baltimore hosts the 0-8 Los Angeles Chargers this coming Monday night.
While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Brissett said he didn’t “really want to get into” whether he had been told that the plan is for him to start until Jackson is cleared to play.
“I’d be a fool to look forward,” Brissett added at that time. “I’m trying to learn teammates, players, coaches, plays, and get ready for a game. So, the last thing I’m worried about is what happens down the road.”
Lamar Jackson “doing everything he can to get back”
“He is doing everything he can to get back, and we will let his progress guide the timing of his return,” Minter continued in his statement about Jackson’s status. “We are committed to playing our best football over the second half of the season.”
That last line is crucial, as Jackson likely won’t play again this season if the Ravens are out of the hunt for a playoff spot when he is deemed ready to resume football activities. For what it is worth, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Ravens as 4.5-point favorites over the Chargers shortly after Minter’s statement went public.
