What happened: Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter stated he is not entertaining any thought that Lamar Jackson's tenure with the team is nearing an end. The quarterback is set to be placed on injured reserve to undergo a procedure on his right thumb following Baltimore's road loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Why it matters: Baltimore is 4-4 in 2026 through 8 games and sits 10th in the AFC after dropping three straight contests. Jackson's absence forces the front office to seek quarterback depth via trades and waivers to keep postseason contention alive.

What to watch: Baltimore monitors Jackson's surgical recovery timeline as the organization evaluates external options ahead of the NFL trade deadline.