Lamar Jackson was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills after suffering a right thumb injury on the Ravens’ first offensive snap. The two-time MVP exited the field in the first quarter and did not return, marking his second consecutive injury-related absence in as many weeks.
Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley also left the game early in the second quarter with a toe injury, forcing the Ravens to rely on undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano for the remainder of the contest. Fagnano made his NFL debut in relief but struggled, with the Ravens’ offense managing just two drives before halftime.
Jackson’s thumb injury occurred on the opening play when his throwing hand made contact with Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau’s arm during a pass attempt. He immediately clutched his hand in pain and was escorted to the locker room, where the team later confirmed he would not return. Initial reports listed Jackson as questionable to return, but his status changed to out within minutes, suggesting a potentially serious injury such as a dislocation or fracture.
Huntley, who had replaced Jackson, was sacked by Bills linebacker Cole Bishop in the second quarter, forcing a fumble and leaving Baltimore without its top two quarterbacks. The Ravens turned to Fagnano, a rookie from UConn, who completed a 15-yard pass to Josh Cuevas on his first drive but was sacked twice and threw two incompletions before the half ended. Baltimore kicker Tyler Loop missed a 34-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter.
The Ravens fell behind early as Josh Allen led the Bills to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. Derrick Henry’s 2-yard touchdown run later in the quarter narrowed the deficit, but Baltimore’s offense managed only 6 points in the first half. The team’s defense, which had allowed 35 points in the second half of their Week 7 loss to Cincinnati, struggled again, with Allen adding a rushing touchdown.
Jackson had returned from a high-ankle sprain that sidelined him for three games prior to Sunday’s matchup. He completed 68 of 96 passes for 967 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception in four games this season, with the Ravens holding a 3-1 record in his starts. His absence leaves Baltimore without its starting quarterback for the second straight week, with Huntley’s status uncertain for Thursday’s game against Jacksonville.
The Ravens, now 4-4 and last in the AFC North, face a critical stretch of their schedule with Jackson’s return timeline unclear. Coach Jesse Minter emphasized the team’s urgency in addressing their quarterback situation, while franchise legend Ray Lewis addressed the team ahead of the game to reinforce themes of resilience and cohesion.
Buffalo entered the game at 5-1, with top receiver DJ Moore expected to play after missing two weeks with a shoulder injury. Moore, acquired in an offseason trade, has been Buffalo’s most explosive receiving threat, though his limited availability due to injury has impacted the Bills’ offense.
The Ravens’ next game is Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars, with Jackson’s status for that contest still undetermined.