Ravens' star QB faces surgery, may miss rest of 2026

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson requires surgery on his right thumb and may not play again this season. Head coach Jesse Minter said the injury will likely place Jackson on injured reserve. This means the team will search for a replacement before playing the Jacksonville Jaguars at home on Thursday.

The injury occurred on the first offensive play of the Ravens' game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, New York. Jackson attempted a pass to receiver Zay Flowers and could not complete his follow-through. His right hand struck the arm of Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau. Jackson left the field immediately, pointing to his thumb. He took a knee on the field before walking into the tunnel. He returned to the sideline for the second half with his thumb in a splint.

Jackson had missed three prior games due to an ankle injury. The two-time MVP now faces a long recovery after the thumb injury. Minter confirmed the surgical plan during a press conference after the Ravens' 36-10 defeat.

Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley started in Jackson's place. Huntley suffered a toe injury in the second quarter. He was sacked by Bills safety Cole Bishop and fumbled the ball on third down. The Ravens ruled Huntley out before the third quarter began. Minter did not provide a specific timeline for Huntley's return.

Rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano entered the game in the third quarter. Fagnano is an undrafted player from the University of Connecticut. He made his National Football League debut under pressure. He completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards and threw one interception. Fagnano said he expects to be healthy enough to start on Thursday. He attributed any physical discomfort to normal post-game soreness.

The Ravens' offensive statistics dropped sharply without Jackson. In the three games played without him, the team scored 63 fewer points. The offense averaged three fewer yards per play compared to games where Jackson started. The team is currently 4-4 and has lost three consecutive games.

Linebacker Roquan Smith acknowledged the emotional impact of losing their leader. He described the game as unforgiving regardless of a player's reputation. Smith said the team must rely on the next available player to step up. He emphasized that the circumstances were difficult but necessary to address.

Minter is in his first season as head coach after replacing John Harbaugh. He stated that it is his job to keep the team united. He said the group must avoid pointing fingers and support the next man up. The Ravens must now manage their roster with two injured quarterbacks and a rookie preparing for a short rest.