Lamar Jackson's Thumb Surgery Just Torched the Ravens' Season
Lamar Jackson is undergoing thumb surgery and heading to injured reserve after lasting just one play against the Bills, leaving the 4-4 Ravens in a desperate spot in the AFC North.
HotTakes Editorial TeamUpdated 1 min read
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The Baltimore Ravens just watched their season evaporate on a single snap. According to Ian Rapoport on NFL Network, Lamar Jackson is undergoing surgery on his right thumb and heading straight to injured reserve.
Jackson lasted exactly one play against the Buffalo Bills before his throwing hand collided with pass rusher Gregory Rousseau. He spent the rest of the 36-10 blowout loss standing on the sideline in a cast, watching a nightmare scenario unfold in real time.
"Ian Rapoport reported on NFL Network that Jackson is undergoing thumb surgery."
If losing a two-time MVP wasn't enough of a gut punch, the football gods decided to get creative. Backup Tyler Huntley stepped in and promptly suffered a toe injury in the second quarter. That forced undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano into his NFL debut, where he threw for 91 yards, tossed an interception, and lost a fumble. That is not a depth chart. That is a triage unit.
This is a brutal blow for a Baltimore team that was already walking a tightrope. Jackson had just returned from a three-game absence due to an ankle injury, and his brief comeback was supposed to stabilize the ship. Instead, head coach Jesse Minter is now admitting this IR stint could potentially be season-ending.
The math in the AFC North is completely unforgiving right now. The Ravens are sitting at 4-4, which sounds perfectly average until you realize they are dead last in the division behind the 6-2 Pittsburgh Steelers, the 5-2 Cincinnati Bengals, and the 5-3 Cleveland Browns. Trying to climb out of that basement with a third-string quarterback is like trying to win a drag race on a bicycle.
Anyone holding a Baltimore futures ticket might want to look away from the screen. The Ravens have exactly four days to figure out an offensive game plan before hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday Night Football. Whatever the oddsmakers decide to do with that line, expect it to reflect a team that just lost its entire identity on the first play of November.
Key stats
Key statsRavens lost to the Bills 36-10.
Baltimore falls to 4-4, last in the AFC North.
Joe Fagnano went 10-of-21 for 91 yards, 1 INT, and 1 fumble in relief.
What's next
The Ravens have a short week to prepare for a Thursday Night Football matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, likely relying on a third-string quarterback.
