Lamar Jackson Returns to Full Practice Ahead of Bills Matchup

Lamar Jackson participated in every drill during Wednesday's Baltimore Ravens practice, marking the first full session since he sustained a high-ankle sprain on Oct. 4. This development increases the likelihood that he will start Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills.

The quarterback's return to the field has been gradual. He practiced in a limited capacity last week before being ruled out of the Oct. 25 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. That game extended a streak of two consecutive defeats for the team, which now holds a 4-3 record.

Wednesday's session showed visible progress. Jackson jogged around the practice field and engaged in more intensive warmups with athletic trainers during the period open to media observation. Head coach Jesse Minter remained cautious in his public comments, pointing to the official injury report rather than offering a definitive timeline.

"I think the more you're able to do and respond from and feel from certainly raises your optimism," Minter said. "But again, we'll kind of see how it goes throughout the week."

The urgency of the situation is underscored by the performance of backup quarterback Tyler Huntley. Huntley is 1-2 as a starter since filling in for Jackson, who was injured late in the first half of the Week 4 win over the Tennessee Titans. Huntley led a comeback in an overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons but struggled in subsequent losses to the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati.

Jackson said on Friday that he would rely on his body's feedback to determine his readiness. "I'm just trying to move how I move," he said. "If I can't do that, I can't help my team. I can't put my team in a situation like that. I feel like I'm doing a disservice then."

Medical timelines for high-ankle sprains typically require at least one month for rehabilitation. While Jackson's mobility has improved, the Ravens face other hurdles. The team's defense has been among the worst in the NFL after halftime, and the offensive line has shown inconsistency. Right guard Vega Ioane is expected to miss Sunday's game, while coach Minter expressed optimism about the recovery of inside linebacker Roquan Smith and safeties Kyle Hamilton and Jaylinn Hawkins, all of whom suffered knee injuries during Wednesday's session.