Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson missed the last two games due to a hamstring injury that he suffered in Week 4. There has been a belief that the star signal caller was trending towards returning to the field, and now the team has received a major update on his availability.
The Ravens have been one of the biggest surprises in 2025. Though many believed they would be the team to beat in the AFC, that has not been the case. Even before Jackson was injured, the team went into Week 4 with a 1-2 record.
Following his injury, the Ravens seem to implode even more, as they have lost four straight. Jackson gives Baltimore the best chance at winning due to his dual-threat capabilities as a quarterback.
The way that Jackson can throw downfield and rifle off chunk yardage on the ground is a major reason why the Ravens likely had to be very careful with his recovery from the hamstring injury. However, it appears that he is set to start in Week 8.
After being limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, Jackson was upgraded to a full participant on Friday. This upward trend tends to indicate that a player will take the field.
Harbaugh did state, "We'll see where it's at going forward,” which is likely to temper expectations about Jackson playing. Hamstring injuries can be tricky, and the way that the Ravens’ passer plays means he would have to be fully healed to even take the field.
Still, Jackson being upgraded is huge news for this ailing Ravens team. They are set to face the Chicago Bears, who have turned things around on their end. Caleb Williams and company are 4-2 and are on a four-game win streak.
The Ravens still have the kind of roster that can lead to an upset win, and they have received a major playoff prediction from Albert Breer despite their 1-5 start. Breer believes they remain the team to beat the Kansas City Chiefs, and their upcoming soft schedule can lead to a string of wins.
Either way, the first step in getting those wins is having Jackson on the field, and it appears that will be the case for Week 8.
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