On Monday, Ravens coach Jesse Minter declined to address quarterback Lamar Jackson’s injury status. In a highly unusual move, the Ravens released a statement from Minter on Friday that did address Jackson’s status.
“Lamar is doing well as he recovers from the broken and dislocated thumb injury he suffered in Week 8,” Minter said in the statement the Ravens published on social media and the team’s website. “Recovery timelines are challenging to predict, but injuries like this that require surgery typically take about 6-10 weeks to heal. He is doing everything he can to get back, and we will let his progress guide the timing of his return. We are committed to playing our best football over the the season. second half of the season.”
It’s unclear why the Ravens decided to release this statement, this way. NFL teams rarely announce injury news via a written statement from the head coach. Typically if there’s something to update, the coach will say it at his regularly scheduled press conference, or the player himself will say how he’s doing. In more complex cases, a written statement might come from the team’s medical staff, but not the head coach.
Jackson suffered the injury in Week 8, which means that the 6-10 week timeline would but his return somewhere in the Week 14 to Week 18 neighborhood. Realistically, the Ravens may not be in playoff contention by the time Jackson is cleared to return, which means Jackson’s 2026 season may be over.