Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has a "realistic chance" to return for Sunday's game at Cleveland, a league source told ESPN. The same wording appeared in a report credited to Adam Schefter on r/nfl. Jackson missed Week 5 with an ankle injury.
Pro Football Talk and Yahoo Sports both pointed to Monday's comments from Ravens head coach Jesse Minter. He told reporters that Jackson was "definitely doing better." That is as far as the coach's language goes in the material we have. Neither summary says Jackson practiced, and none of the reports gives him a game designation. The "realistic chance" phrasing comes from the league source, not from the team. ESPN also ran a separate piece on what his potential return means for Baltimore's season. We have only its headline.
Jackson's last appearance was Oct. 4 against Tennessee, and he was efficient in it. He completed 15 of 20 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, with a 144.2 rating, in a 24-18 win. Over four games this season he has completed 70.8% of his passes for 967 yards, six touchdowns and one interception, a 119.6 rating. He has also run 19 times for 144 yards and a touchdown, 7.6 yards a carry. Seven sacks across those four games are a reminder that he takes contact even when he is passing.
The Ravens did not slip without him. They won 30-23 at Atlanta in overtime on Oct. 11, and backup Tyler Huntley started. He went 24 of 32 for 201 yards and two touchdowns, ran for another score and posted a 111.6 rating. Derrick Henry carried 24 times for 102 yards, and Justice Hill added 73 yards on four carries. Baltimore rushed for 208 yards in the game, but it averaged only 5.1 yards per pass attempt.
The Ravens are 4-1 and first in the AFC North, with wins in each of their last three games. The other two wins were 34-31 at Dallas and 24-18 over Tennessee. Jackson played in both, so Atlanta is the only game in that run he missed. Baltimore does not have to force the issue on timing, but Sunday's opponent is a division game.
The next step is the injury report. Minter's updates and the practice participation figures that come with them this week should show whether the source's read holds. Kickoff in Cleveland is Sunday, Oct. 18. If Jackson cannot go, Huntley would start again.
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