Lamar Jackson returns to Ravens lineup

Lamar Jackson is set to start for the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

The 4-3 Ravens face the 5-1 Buffalo Bills at 1 p.m. ET in Orchard Park, New York. This matchup serves as a test of whether Jackson can halt a two-game losing streak. The team faces a short week, with Jacksonville visiting M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday night.

Jackson missed the last three games due to a high ankle sprain. He participated fully in practice all week and carried no injury designation on the final team report, according to NFL.com. Coach Jesse Minter stated on Friday that the team expected to have him available.

Baltimore’s season has split into two distinct halves. With Jackson starting the first four games, the team went 3-1. With Tyler Huntley starting the next three, they went 1-2. That stretch included a 13-10 loss at Cleveland and a 35-13 home loss to Cincinnati. In his four starts, Jackson completed 70.8% of his passes for 967 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. Huntley completed 69.8% for 727 yards, four touchdowns and one interception across four appearances.

Jackson told reporters that the pain from his ankle is bearable and that he can move around better than before. A full week of practice signals that the team trusts the injury. His ability to run freely in Buffalo will be the key factor, as his legs are a major component of the offense. Jackson said the sense of urgency is extremely high.

Buffalo is a difficult place for Jackson, who is 2-4 against Josh Allen and the Bills, including playoffs. The most recent meeting was a 41-40 Buffalo win in the 2025 season opener. The Bills are rested, coming off a Week 7 bye. They lead the AFC East at 5-1 and have lost only once, a 29-26 home defeat to New England in Week 4.

The Ravens enter the game fourth in the AFC North. A win would move them back to two games over .500 with Jackson healthy. A loss would drop them to .500 midway through the season. Baltimore hosts the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 8:15 p.m., followed by the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, Nov. 16. Both are home games, which matters for a quarterback still nursing an ankle on a short week.