Lamar Jackson left the field early in Week 4 due to an untimely hamstring injury. NFL fans expressed concern about his health and availability. This weekend, the news they feared was confirmed.
After a Week 7 bye, Ravens fans expected Jackson to return against the Chicago Bears in Week 8, especially after the team listed him as a full participant in Friday’s practice. Analysts and commentators anticipated his comeback.
An unexpected but legal change
According to The Sports Rush, the Ravens decided to change the situation completely. The franchise confirmed that Lamar Jackson will miss the game, which triggered reactions from fans and league analysts.
Baltimore’s statement of Lamar Jackson’s practice participation being changed today as he also was ruled out for Sunday’s game: pic.twitter.com/hk3ffHCttM
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 25, 2025
Ian Rapoport clarified that this does not violate NFL rules. He explained: “I understand that Lamar Jackson was a full participant this week for the Ravens on Friday, but not as you would say… Lamar took repetitions with the scout team. He essentially served as the scout team quarterback on Friday. He completed his full assignment of reps, but not as QB1.”
This means that Jackson is not as healthy as expected. Fans might wonder why the team listed him as a full participant until Friday. Rapoport added: “According to the rules, he was essentially downgraded from full to limited because the letter of the law says that if he didn’t take QB1 reps, he wasn’t full.”
However, the Ravens are not the only team facing absences. The Chicago Bears will also miss key players, including Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon, Braxton Jones, and Cole Kmet on Sunday. This could bring some relief to Ravens fans still waiting for Jackson’s prompt return.
