Jackson Returns to Baltimore Lineup After Ankle Injury

The Baltimore Ravens fell from first place in the AFC North to last after dropping their last two games, both played without quarterback Lamar Jackson. The team will have him back on the field this weekend.

Coach Jesse Minter said Friday that Jackson will start Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. Jackson has not played since suffering a high ankle sprain on the final play of the first half of Baltimore's Week 4 win over the Tennessee Titans. He told reporters Friday that planting his foot still causes pain, though he described the sensation as "bearable."

Through four games, Jackson completed 70.8% of his passes for six touchdowns and one interception. He added 144 rushing yards and a touchdown on 7.6 yards per carry, figures above his career averages of roughly 65% completion and 6.1 yards per carry. He is 29 years old.

The Ravens' offense stalled without him. In last Sunday's loss to Cincinnati, Baltimore held a 13-0 halftime lead and was outscored 35-0 after the break. The 35 points allowed matched a franchise record for a second half and were the most surrendered by the team since Week 6 of 1997, when Baltimore led 21-0 and lost 42-34. Tyler Huntley started that game at quarterback.

Buffalo's defense enters Sunday allowing 28.5 points per game, third-most in the NFL, and has given up at least 30 points in five of its first six games.