Ravens Injury Report: Lamar Jackson Returns to Full Practice Before Bills

Lamar Jackson participated fully in practice on Wednesday, marking his first unrestricted session since sustaining an ankle injury. This development suggests he will start the Baltimore Ravens' game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The team has lost its last two contests and currently holds a 4-3 record.

The Ravens have not released official game-status designations, which are scheduled for Friday. However, the activity at the team's facility in Owings Mills, Maryland, has consistently pointed toward Jackson playing. CBS Sports reported that Jackson appeared on the first injury report of Week 8 as a full participant. He is expected to take the field after missing three games following a leg injury sustained in the October 4 victory over Tennessee.

The Ravens' performance without their starter has been inconsistent. According to The Associated Press, the team went 1-2 in games started by Tyler Huntley. The most recent loss was a 35-13 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The Ravens trailed at the end of the first half by 13 points in that contest, snapping a winning streak in the AFC North.

Team members have voiced support for Jackson's return while emphasizing the need for balanced play. Running back Derrick Henry described Jackson as the "heart and soul of this team," according to the team's website. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley added a note of caution, stating the team does not want to rely solely on Jackson to carry the offense. Stanley told BaltimoreRavens.com that Jackson's return "is going to be a big boost."

The injury report includes other key players on both sides. On the Ravens' defense, three regulars missed practice on Wednesday. Smith briefly left the Bengals game with a knee injury before returning, and Ioane reportedly sprained a knee and is expected to miss time, according to BaltimoreRavens.com. The defense has been outscored after halftime this season, making these absences a concern. On the positive side, rookie running back Adam Randall returned to practice, opening his 21-day window to be activated from injured reserve.

The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 1, in Orchard Park, New York. CBS will broadcast the matchup with Ian Eagle on play-by-play and Ross Tucker as the analyst. In Baltimore, the game will air on WJZ-TV, covering the Maryland and Baltimore-Washington market, according to Yahoo Sports.

The Ravens will issue two more injury reports on Thursday and Friday. Friday's report will carry official designations such as "out," "doubtful," or "questionable." A player with no designation is expected to play. NFL teams must announce inactive players 90 minutes before kickoff, which is 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday. If Jackson remains a full participant through Friday without a designation, the focus will shift to his sharpness after nearly a month away. If his status changes, Huntley would make a fourth consecutive start.

First-year coach Jesse Minter's team is entering the second half of the season after dropping two division games in a row. A road trip to Buffalo is a difficult assignment, and the team has already addressed questions about the end of an era at kicker, as Justin Tucker signed with Kansas City. A healthy Jackson does not resolve the red-zone and penalty issues that surfaced against Cincinnati, but his return marks the end of a month without the two-time MVP.