Lamar Jackson reportedly expected to miss 6-9 weeks, is telling teammates he'll return this season

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is determined to return before the end of the 2026 NFL season. Jackson, who is expected to miss between six and nine weeks, reportedly told teammates to " just stay alive " ahead of his return, according to ESPN.

Jackson reportedly sustained a fractured and dislocated thumb during the team's Week 8 game against the Buffalo Bills. Jackson, who was making his first start since Week 4, was injured on his first passing attempt of the contest after his thumb made contact with the hand of Bills defender Greg Rousseau, who was trying to disrupt the pass.

Jackson left the game, and was replaced by Tyler Huntley, who also got injured in the contest. On Thursday, the team placed both Jackson and Huntley on injured reserve . Huntley's injury — turf toe — is said to be season-ending.

The team kept things close to the vest with Jackson, not revealing the extent of his injury Thursday. When asked whether Jackson would miss the rest of the season, Ravens head coach Jesse Minter merely said, " we'll see. "

Given the timeline, Jackson's return is far from guaranteed. If he needs closer to nine weeks to return, Jackson would be looking to come back in early January. At that point, the team could be out of the playoff hunt.

Reaching the postseason without both Jackson and Huntley could prove difficult. A loss to the Bills in Week 8 dropped the team to 4-4 on the season. With both players sidelined, the Ravens turned to third-stringer Joe Fagnano in Week 9. He struggled during a 33-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, dropping the Ravens to 4-5.

Before that game, however, the team signaled it planned to contend down the stretch. On Wednesday, it was reported the team acquired veteran Jacoby Brissett in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals. Brissett wasn't ready to play Thursday, but will likely move into a starting role as soon as he's up to speed.

Whether Brissett can keep the team afloat long enough for Jackson to return remains to be seen. It should help, however, that the Ravens' next four opponents are currently under .500.

It's imperative the team come out of that stretch with a strong record. Baltimore closes out the season with four straight AFC North games, all against teams with winning records.