For the second time this season, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is staring down a multi-game absence as he deals with an injury.
Jackson suffered a right thumb injury after hitting his hand on a defensive player on the first play of his team's Week 8 loss to the Buffalo Bills
. The 29-year-old quarterback immediately exited the game clutching his throwing hand before receiving medical treatment.Jackson was quickly ruled out for the game and was later seen on the sideline in street clothes, wearing a cast on his injured right hand.
How long will Jackson's latest injury keep him out of action? It is already guaranteed to be longer than the three-game absence he had because of an ankle injury earlier during the 2026 NFL season.
Here's
what to know about Jackson's injury and when he might be able to return to the field.
How long is Lamar Jackson out?
Jackson will miss at least four games, as Ravens coach Jesse Minter announced the 29-year-old quarterback will need to be placed on IR because of his thumb injury.
"That'll be a surgery deal," Minter said when discussing Jackson's injury. "He'll go to IR. That's a tough deal."
Minter did not provide an exact timeline for Jackson to return to action, but he acknowledged the injury could "potentially" be season-ending. The team will take a wait-and-see approach before determining whether Jackson could return to the field in 2026.
The earliest Jackson could potentially return to the field would be in Week 14 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is guaranteed to miss the Ravens' Weeks 9-12 contests and the team will have a bye in Week 13.
Who is Lamar Jackson's backup?
Tyler Huntley is typically Jackson's backup quarterback. The 28-year-old started three games in place of Jackson while the quarterback battled an ankle injury and led the Ravens to a 1-2 record while completing 68% of his passes for 664 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
However, Huntley suffered an injury of his own while replacing Jackson against the Bills. He exited the game because of a toe injury and didn't return, so his status moving forward will need to be monitored.
The Ravens have just one other quarterback, Joe Fagnano, on their 53-man roster and practice squad.
Ravens QB depth chart
Below is a look at the pecking order within the Ravens' quarterback room:
- Lamar Jackson
- Tyler Huntley
- Joe Fagnano
Fagnano, an undrafted rookie from UConn, is presently the only healthy quarterback on the Ravens' 53-man roster. He played a majority of Baltimore's 36-10 loss to Buffalo and completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards and an interception.
The Ravens have a short turnaround ahead of their "Thursday Night Football" game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9, so Baltimore will have to quickly add a quarterback to the fold if it determines Huntley will not be able to play on the short week.
These five players could draw consideration to join the Ravens' quarterback room if Jackson and Huntley both miss extended time.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How long is Lamar Jackson out? Latest injury update on Ravens QB's thumb
