This news came on Sunday after he got hurt on the very first play of the game against the Buffalo Bills. The Baltimore Ravens (4-4) have lost three straight, falling to last place in the AFC North and trailing the Steelers by two games. It is a crushing blow that ends any real talk about a Super Bowl run for this team.
Jackson hurt his hand when Bills linebacker Greg Rousseau struck it while trying to knock down a pass. The two-time NFL MVP immediately went to the sideline with his hand wrapped. He returned to the field in the third quarter with a brace but left for good before the end. Coach Jesse Minter confirmed the surgery and the move to IR after the game.
The Backup Plan Fails Fast
The Ravens had no one to step up when Jackson went down. Tyler Huntley, who started when Jackson missed time before, also left the game with a toe injury. Huntley was ruled out in the third quarter, leaving the team with undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano. Fagnano completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards and threw an interception. The team trailed 10-0 late in the first quarter and punted on their first two possessions.
This is the second time this year the Ravens have lost their top two quarterbacks in one game. It is the first time since 2017 that a team has had three different quarterbacks throw a pass in the first half. The last team to do this was the Dallas Cowboys. The Ravens are now in last place in the AFC North and trying to avoid a three-game losing streak.
A Broken Season in the Making
The timing of this injury is as bad as it gets. Jackson had just returned from a high ankle sprain that kept him out for three games. He admitted last week that he was not pain-free in his ankle but planned to play anyway. He said he felt like he was “no longer a statue” and was “able to move around a little better,” per the New York Post. He also said, “I’m going to give it a shot.”
That shot is over now. The Ravens scored only five touchdowns in the 14 quarters they played without Jackson before this game. Now they have to deal with a rookie quarterback and a backup who is hurt too. Justice Hill, the running back, is named emergency quarterback should Fagnano get hurt. The math is simple: a team cannot win with its third-string quarterback.
The Ravens had a 4-3 record entering Sunday, but that looks like a high point now. They missed the playoffs last season due to injuries, and history is repeating itself. Jackson’s rushing ability is the best in football, but he cannot run if his thumb is broken. The 2026 season is likely over before November ends.
