Jesse Minter Optimistic on Lamar Jackson for Bills, Says Ravens Will 'Know a Lot More on Wednesday'
Jackson has missed three straight games with a high ankle sprain, and Baltimore has dropped two in a row without him
Ravens coach Jesse Minter sounded hopeful Monday that Lamar Jackson will be back for Sunday's game at Buffalo, but he stopped short of saying the quarterback will start, ESPN's Jamison Hensley reported.
"I think he was able to get in a little bit of work obviously towards the end of last week. And so I think he'll be in a decent spot, but we'll know a lot more on Wednesday."
"So look, if he's able to play -- that's healthy enough to play and play the way that obviously we feel like he needs to play -- then he will play."
— Jesse Minter
Jackson has missed three straight games with a high ankle sprain. He looked on track to return last week after practicing on a limited basis all week, but the Ravens ruled him out the day after listing him as questionable, and Tyler "Snoop" Huntley started a 35-13 loss to the Bengals. Minter declined to confirm a report on the CBS broadcast that Jackson woke up Saturday with more swelling in the ankle.
Baltimore needs him. The Ravens are 4-3 and in last place in the AFC North after two straight losses, and they've averaged 17.7 points per game over the three games without Jackson, 24th in the league. Minter said he didn't want that to become "the built-in excuse," but the gap is hard to miss.
Wednesday's practice report will be the first real sign of whether Jackson faces the Bills.