For the third time in as many weeks, Lamar Jackson is off the injury designation and will start for the Baltimore Ravens despite missing practice with another injury.
Jackson is good to go on Thanksgiving, where he will lead Baltimore into the nightcap of a Turkey tripleheader against the rival Cincinnati Bengals.
This week, Jackson missed Monday’s walk-off with a toe injury, as his ailments have been up and down his foot for the past month. In recent weeks, Jackson has missed practice with ankle (Week 12) and knee (Week 11) injuries. They have come after he missed three games earlier this season with a hamstring injury.
Jackson has completed 66.7% of his passes this season for 1,595 yards, 15 touchdowns and three interceptions with a 111.0 passer rating that ranks second in the NFL.
Baltimore has dug itself out of a 1-5 hole after winning five straight, with the last four coming with Jackson under center. However, the two-time MVP hasn’t exactly been his usual dynamic self, leading some to believe that a nagging injury could hamper his game. He has not thrown a touchdown in his last two starts.
Jackson and the Ravens will begin an important week for the AFC North.
Baltimore (6-5) is tied atop the division with the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5), who could welcome Aaron Rodgers, who missed Week 12 with a broken left wrist.
Jackson and the Ravens will face a Bengals (3-8) team that is all but out of the playoff picture but still impressed by the return of QB Joe Burrow, who has not played since Week 2 with a toe injury.
Both superstars will shrug off toe injuries to meet for the eighth time in their decorated careers.
Jackson has a commanding 7-1 advantage against Burrow and plenty of festival history in his favor.
The Ravens are 2-0 on Thanksgiving, although Jackson will make his first start on the holiday, as Joe Flacco started the previous two games before the contest — the last in 2013. Additionally, Jackson and the Ravens will ride a three-game holiday winning streak, having won the 2023 and 2024 Christmas events.
Jackson and the Ravens (6-5) open against the visiting Bengals (3-8) at 8:20 PM ET on Thursday.