On Friday, the Baltimore Ravens delivered exciting news to fans when head coach Jesse Minter announced that Lamar Jackson, who has missed the franchise's last three games, will return to action this Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
With the Ravens currently sitting at the back of the pack in a competitive AFC North race that could feature the NFL's best division this season after consecutive losses to the Browns and Bengals, Jackson's return should have a major impact on how the race plays out.
Ravens HC Jesse Minter announced that QB Lamar Jackson, who has missed the past three games due to a high ankle sprain, will start Sunday’s game at Buffalo.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 30, 2026
The first impact should be felt immediately, as Jackson's return should immediately raise Baltimore's
chances against the Bills this weekend. And if the Ravens can beat the Bills this weekend, with either the Browns or the Steelers set to take another loss in a divisional matchup, that should put the Ravens right back in the thick of the race for the division.
And the Ravens don't have to play another game inside the AFC North until December 20, when their season will close with a stretch of four consecutive games against divisional competition. That gives Jackson plenty of time to get the Ravens back into a position to make a run at the divisional title heading into that final stretch. So expect Jackson's return to add even more heat to a divisional race that is already quite fierce with half the season left to play.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: How will Lamar Jackson's Week 8 return affect the AFC North race?
