Lamar Jackson is Finally Returning to Save the Ravens From Themselves

The Baltimore Ravens are finally getting their MVP back, which means we no longer have to pretend Tyler Huntley is a sustainable offensive strategy. According to a report from Big Day ESPN relayed by Ian Rapoport, Lamar Jackson is expected to return to the field this week.

This is the exact kind of news that makes oddsmakers scramble to pull lines off the board. Jackson has missed the last three games with a high ankle sprain he suffered back on October 4 against the Tennessee Titans. Without him, the Baltimore offense has looked exactly like you would expect an offense to look when you remove its entire engine.

"Ian Rapoport relayed a report from Big Day ESPN that Jackson is expected to return to the field this week and had a 'fun' press conference."

For context, the Ravens just got completely dismantled by the Cincinnati Bengals in a 35-13 blowout. They are sitting at 4-3, which is fine for a normal franchise but feels like a five-alarm fire for a team with Super Bowl expectations. Before his ankle decided to stop cooperating, Jackson was cooking, throwing for 967 yards and six touchdowns with just one interception in his first four games of the season.

Watching a team built entirely around the most dynamic athlete in football try to function without him is like watching someone try to drive a Ferrari with a lawnmower engine. Huntley is a great backup, but asking him to keep pace in the AFC North is asking for a miracle. Jackson apparently had a "fun" press conference this week, which is usually code for a guy who knows he is about to get back on the field and stop watching his team punt.

The timing could not possibly be more critical. The Ravens are packing their bags to play the 5-1 Buffalo Bills this Sunday. If Jackson is actually healthy enough to move like himself, this goes from a scheduled blowout to the best game of the weekend.