Two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson is finally back at practice, aiming to galvanize a Baltimore Ravens team teetering on the edge of collapse. The Ravens, sitting at 1–5, are in desperate need of a spark as they prepare for a must-win matchup against the Chicago Bears, and Jackson’s return might be the jolt they’ve been waiting for.
The All-Pro quarterback missed two full games after suffering a hamstring injury in the Week 4 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs. A timely bye week gave him extra recovery time, but his absence from Monday’s practice session raised concerns about the status of his recovery. Those doubts were silenced when he returned to practice on Wednesday, restoring belief in a locker room that’s clinging to postseason hope.
Lamar Jackson Returns to Practice
Before the injury, Jackson was in peak form. Through his first four games, he completed nearly 72% of his passes for over 850 yards, 10 touchdowns, and just one interception, good for a league-high 130.5 passer rating. This strong start followed a season in which he was selected as the All-Pro quarterback and finished as the MVP runner-up, an award many pundits and fans believed he should have won.
In fact, after his exceptional regular-season performances over the past three years, Jackson now holds the highest career regular-season passer rating in NFL history (103.0), a remarkable feat for someone many doubted when he entered the league. Few quarterbacks have ever combined explosive playmaking with both their legs and arm while maintaining the level of mistake-free efficiency Jackson has displayed over the past several seasons.
Can the Ravens Still Make the Playoffs?
The Ravens still remain in the playoff picture despite their 1–5 record. The AFC North remains wide open, with every rival showing cracks — from the Steelers’ middling defensive play to the Bengals’ injury setbacks and the Browns’ ongoing inconsistency. Even with their rough start, Baltimore’s overall talent, depth, and experience under John Harbaugh keep them in the conversation. This team has weathered adversity before, and with Jackson returning, they once again have the most dynamic player in the division.
Beyond their division, the AFC as a whole feels less top-heavy than in recent years. While the Chiefs have shown major improvement over the past couple of weeks, the Bills look beatable, and no other experienced contender has truly separated from the pack. The Ravens have already faced one of the toughest early-season schedules in football, and with a lighter stretch ahead, opportunity is finally on their side.
Why It’s Now or Never
But history isn’t on Baltimore’s side, and that’s precisely what makes this stretch so pivotal. Only four teams in the last 30 years have made the playoffs after starting 1–5. That puts the Ravens in rare territory, where every week feels like an elimination game. Momentum is everything coming off the bye. There are no more breaks, no more chances to reset. The Ravens, with Lamar back, must capitalize on a softer schedule and prove that talent and leadership still matter more than early-season mistakes.
Because at some point, if you can’t convert talent into wins, you simply become what your record says you are.
Main Photo: [Denny Medley] – Imagn Images
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