The Baltimore Ravens took the practice field Wednesday afternoon, and for the first time since Sept. 28, their star quarterback joined them.
Lamar Jackson jogged onto the field about 20 minutes into practice. He did some warmup throws and took a few reps behind Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley during the individual portion of practice. He gave offensive coordinator Todd Monken a hug and greeted fullback Patrick Ricard.
His return comes four days before the Ravens face the Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium in a game they essentially have to win to keep their sagging playoff hopes alive. Jackson has been sidelined since straining his right hamstring in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Ravens were winless in the two games Jackson didn’t start, and they’ve lost four straight overall to fall to 1-5, tying their worst start in franchise history. However, team officials are optimistic that they could make a run after the bye week to get back into the playoff mix, and the return of Jackson is a big reason why.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 22, 2025
Baltimore has scored 30 points or more in the three games this season that Jackson has started and finished. In the three games that he hasn’t, the Ravens have totaled 33 points. They are also 4-12 without Jackson since he became their starter.
Rush, who started the last two games, struggled mightily in Jackson’s absence, turning the ball over five times and ultimately getting pulled in favor of Huntley in the second half of the Ravens’ 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 12. Ravens coach John Harbaugh was noncommittal last week when asked whether Rush is still the team’s No. 2 quarterback.
Harbaugh has expressed confidence over the past 10 days that Jackson would return for the Bears’ game, although he’s also added the caveat that hamstring injuries are tough to predict. The Ravens will likely hold off on making a final decision about Jackson’s availability Sunday until later in the week. Players have their typical Wednesday through Friday practice schedule this week.
Jackson wasn’t the only key Raven to return to the field this week. Middle linebacker Roquan Smith and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who also sustained hamstring injuries in that Sept. 28 loss to the Chiefs, were also back practicing.
The Ravens are also hopeful that Ricard, who hasn’t played yet this season because of a calf injury, and left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who has missed parts or all of Baltimore’s last three games with an ankle injury, will be in the lineup Sunday when they face a Bears team that has won four straight games.
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