Ravens' latest Lamar Jackson update puts star QB in promising position to play Thursday
The Baltimore Ravens proved they could get it done without quarterback Lamar Jackson in Week 8, as backup Tyler Huntley led them to a 30-16 win over the Chicago Bears. They improved to 2-5 and are undoubtedly nearing a return to playoff contention. However, they will not be able to become true contenders with Jackson out.
It seems the Ravens will not be without Jackson for too much longer, though. After limited participation in last week’s practices, the two-time MVP was listed as a full participant on Monday.
We held a walk-through Monday evening, so practice participation is an estimation. pic.twitter.com/rnxXNILzPr
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 27, 2025
While it was a walkthrough practice, and participation was an estimation, it puts Jackson in a promising position to play on Thursday against the Miami Dolphins. With a short week of rest, it was important for Jackson to take the week off in Week 8, and it should pay off in Week 9.
Head Coach John Harbaugh also provided an encouraging update on Jackson’s status for Thursday Night Football.
John Harbaugh provides promising update on Lamar Jackson
In his press conference on Monday, Harbaugh mentioned that the expectation is to see Jackson back out on the field in Miami.
“I feel very confident about [Lamar Jackson playing in Week 9],” Harbaugh said. “We expect him to be out there Thursday night.”
Jackson coming back would be huge for a Ravens team trying to dig out of a deep hole. Sure, the 2-6 Dolphins do not pose the biggest threat of getting in Baltimore’s way, but anything can happen in a short week. Jackson’s presence should rejuvenate the team as a whole, and he is the final piece to the puzzle for a fully healthy offense.
Huntley did an exceptional job last Sunday, totaling over 200 total yards with 186 yards passing and 53 rushing. He helped lead six scoring drives throughout the contest en route to putting 30 points on the board, but Jackson is obviously a game-changer. Not only will the passing game reach another level, but holes should open up much more for running backs Derrick Henry and Keaton Mitchell.
Of course, Harbaugh had similar things to say about Jackson’s potential return last week, but the decision to make him inactive in Week 8 was all to make sure he would be 100 percent for Thursday’s game.
Coming off a hamstring injury, it would not have been a great idea to put Jackson back in action for two games in five days. With the extra game of rest, it sounds like Jackson is ready to suit up, and he should come ready to save the Ravens’ season.
NFL Expected to Hand Down Punishment on Cowboys Troubled Linebacker
One week after scoring 44 points while allowing just 22 against the Washington Commanders, the Dallas Cowboys saw any momentum they may have gained from that inspiring win evaporate on Sunday when they walked away with almost the exact opposite result.
The Cowboys fell to the Denver Broncos, allowing 44 points this time while scoring just 24.
“The blame starts at the top in the front office and trickles down to the coaching staff,” wrote commentator Maitland Rutledge of the Cowboys site
Cowboys Player No Stranger to NFL Discipline
One of the three players who should be held most accountable, according to Rutledge, may also be expecting to face accountability not only from the Cowboys’ coaches and, of course, fans — but from the league itself.
That player is fourth-year edge rusher Sam Williams, who is no stranger to discipline handed down by the NFL.
“Williams also once again could not control himself after plays. He was seen mouthing off at opposing players after plays, and it came to a boiling point in the second quarter,” Rutledge recounted. “After the Broncos scored another touchdown to go up 20-10, Williams was called for an unnecessary roughness penalty. Due to the ball being moved closer to the goal line, Denver went for two.”
The penalty came after a one-yard touchdown carry by Broncos running back RJ Harvey with 3:47 remaining in the second quarter.
After the scoring play, Williams somehow got into a brief altercation with Denver offensive tackle Garrett Bolles and in the course of the skirmish, the 2022 second-round draft pick out of Ole Miss took a swing at the face mask of the Broncos lineman.
Penalty May be Seen as Repeat Offense
Williams was quickly flagged for an unnecessary roughness penalty, which was applied on the extra point — which brought the Broncos close enough to the end zone to attempt a two-point conversion.
The two-point try failed, but Williams now appears likely to face a fine. The question remains, however, of whether league officials will consider the penalty a face mask call.
If so, it would count as a second offense because on October 4, Williams was slapped with an $11,002 fine for a face mask on what would have been his first sack of the season when he took down Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love in Week Four.
If the NFL hits Williams with another face mask fine, as a second offense the punishment would set him back, according to the table of fines posted by the NFL Operations Office, another $17,389 against his salary this year of $1.6 million.
Last season, despite the fact that he spent the entire year on injured reserve, Williams was suspended three games for violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Though he obviously was not going to play those three games anyway, Williams still saw his salary docked for those games — costing him $211,807, according to
The unnecessary roughness penalty against the Broncos was Williams’ fourth flag of the season, and 16th of the three seasons he has played.
In 2023, his last full season, Williams was called for eight penalties including another face mask call, a roughing the kicker penalty, another for running into the kicker and one for interfering with a fair catch.
