The Baltimore Ravens hope starting quarterback Lamar Jackson can return for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, but his high‑ankle sprain still leaves his status uncertain. Jackson, injured in Week 4 versus the Tennessee Titans, missed three games, during which Tyler Huntley went 1‑2 as a starter. Jackson resumed limited practice this week, emphasizing the need to run, plant his foot and move without restriction before playing. ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes only Jackson knows his timeline, and a Wednesday practice update will likely determine his availability for the Bills matchup.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor says rookie DE Shemar Stewart is progressing, noting the defensive line’s depth allows him to develop without immediate pressure. Meanwhile, the Browns lock up veteran DT Maliek Collins with a two‑year extension, praising his disruptive pass rush and veteran leadership on and off the field. Ravens coach Jesse Minter explores the need for stronger on‑field leadership during momentum shifts, highlighting a search for players who can rally the squad in tough moments. The notes capture key roster moves and coaching insights across the AFC.
The Ravens sign veteran guard Michael Jordan to their practice squad after first‑round pick Vega Ioane sprains his MCL. Jordan, a 28‑year‑old former Bengals fourth‑rounder, has logged 19 starts with the Bengals, started for the Panthers in 2023, and played for the Patriots and Buccaneers, posting career‑best PFF pass‑blocking grades (60.4 in 2024, 71.1 in 2025). He provides depth at right guard as Andrew Vorhees and Emery Jones shuffle into the lineup. Baltimore also cut RB Jonathan Ward, clearing a spot for rookie Adam Randall, who may return from IR in Week 5. The moves aim to shore up O‑line help and improve short‑yardage offense.
A former running back of the Pittsburgh Steelers is looking for a new home.
Ahead of the Week 8 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, the Buffalo Bills shuffle their defensive practice squad, re‑signing OLB Andre Jones Jr. and cornerback A.J. Woods while cutting CB Anthony Kendall and DL Austin Johnson. Jones, who played three games for the Bills in 2025 and a brief stint with Miami, returns after registering five tackles last season. Kendall logged 31 snaps and three tackles in the win over the Rams, and Johnson, a 32‑year‑old with two career interceptions from 2024, also departs. The moves aim to fine‑tune the Bills' defense for the upcoming game.
Baltimore entered 2026 as a Super Bowl hopeful, but a 4-3 start and a 35-13 loss to the Bengals have them sliding to the AFC North's bottom. The article revisits the March trade that fell apart when Max Crosby failed his physical, sparing the Ravens two future first‑round picks. While Crosby would have bolstered the pass rush, the piece argues the team’s deeper issues—blown leads, coaching turnover, and roster gaps—won’t be solved by a single star. Retaining the picks now lets Baltimore draft guard Vega Ioane and potentially secure a higher 2027 selection, offering a silver lining amid a disappointing season.
When will the two-time MVP return from his ankle injury?
Lamar Jackson is set to return for the Ravens’ Week 8 showdown with the Buffalo Bills, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport confirms on Peter Schrager’s "Big Day" show. The former MVP missed the past three games with an ankle injury, during which Baltimore posted a 1-2 record, beating the Falcons before dropping to the Browns and Bengals. Jackson’s status shifted from “questionable” to “out” before Week 7, but the latest report says he will suit up in Orchard Park on Sunday, giving Buffalo its second encounter with a former MVP in three games.
Rookie guard Vega Ioane (No. 14 overall) sprains his MCL in the Ravens’ Week 7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and is expected to miss a short stint. Ioane left the game in the first quarter and did not return, prompting veteran Emery Jones to take over right‑guard duties. The injury adds to Baltimore’s line woes after earlier setbacks to Jovaughn Gwyn, Ethan Pocic, and Andrew Vorhees. Despite a modest sample, Jones ranks in the league’s bottom 15 guards, while Ioane had already shown promise at both guard and center and was even mentioned in Offensive Rookie of the Year chatter. The team hopes the brief lay‑off also lets his lingering ankle heal.
The Cincinnati Bengals place tight end Erick All Jr. on injured reserve after he tears his ACL in the third quarter of a 35-13 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 27, 2026. The 25‑year‑old, who missed all of 2025 recovering from a prior ACL tear, had three catches for 26 yards before the injury. All’s setback leaves the Bengals short at tight end alongside Tanner Hudson’s pectoral injury, prompting the team to sign former practice‑squad member Cam Grandy and rely more on Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample and rookie Jack Endries as they prepare for a matchup with the Tennessee Titans. The loss threatens the young player’s comeback momentum after multiple knee surgeries.
The Cincinnati Bengals place rookie tight end Erick All Jr. on injured reserve after a suspected torn ACL, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. To fill the void, the team signs former Vikings practice‑squad TE Cam Grandy, who previously spent time with Cincinnati. All, a 2024 fourth‑round pick, had been emerging as a key offensive weapon. Grandy returns to a familiar system as the Bengals chase division dominance following a 35‑13 second‑half comeback win over the Ravens. Their next game is a home showdown with the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
The Baltimore Beatdown panel debates whether GM Eric DeCosta should have pursued a trade for eight-time Pro Bowler Quenton Nelson. Seattle reportedly secured Nelson from Indianapolis for a 2027 third‑round and 2028 fifth‑round pick, while Baltimore wrestles with a busted offensive line, a sprained‑MCL rookie guard, and a tight cap after recent deals for Cam Jurgens and big contracts for Marlon Humphrey and Roquan Smith. Contributors argue Nelson would instantly upgrade the line and help protect Lamar Jackson, but his $10 million salary and expiring deal could force costly restructurings and overpay the Ravens in draft capital. The consensus: Nelson is a high‑impact upgrade, yet financial constraints make the trade risky for a team not yet Super Bowl‑ready.
Caleb Williams ignites the NFL spotlight as the Chicago Bears upset the New England Patriots on Oct. 22, 2026, delivering a jaw‑dropping throw to Rome Odunze and out‑dueling fellow 2024 draft star Drake Maye. The piece dissects that quarterback showdown, praises Williams’ elite arm, and highlights other 2024 rookies—Michael Penix’s three‑TD win over the 49ers and J.J. McCarthy’s overtime heroics for the Giants. It also critiques Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs’ conservative play, praises Detroit coach Ben Johnson’s bold 58‑yard field‑goal call, and notes the Ravens’ struggles without Lamar Jackson. A must‑read for fans tracking the league’s rising QB talent.
Fans and analysts are blasting the NFL’s Week 8 slate, saying the league botched game times by slotting marquee matchups—Lions vs. Vikings, Bills vs. Ravens, and Browns vs. Steelers—into a 1 p.m. ET window. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky highlighted the issue on X, noting three top contests start simultaneously, while the struggling Eagles‑Commanders game surprisingly lands on Sunday Night Football. Critics argue the prime‑time slot should feature higher‑profile teams, and some fans demand a schedule overhaul before Sunday. The controversy spotlights growing frustration over the league’s prime‑time scheduling decisions.
The NFLSU Week 7 Report Card breaks down every NFL game through the lens of former Tigers, assigning grades to each matchup. Highlights include the Bengals’ 35‑13 blowout over the Ravens (Joe Burrow’s 292 yards, 4 TDs) earning an A, the Browns’ 27‑24 win over the Titans and the Giants’ OT victory at 27‑21 both landing B‑ grades, and several teams with former Tigers earning low marks, such as the Broncos (D+) and Lions (F). Overall, the week receives a solid B grade.
Michael Penix Jr. is shaping up as the Atlanta Falcons’ franchise quarterback, posting top‑10 numbers in several key metrics through his first five starts of 2026. He boasts a 66.7% completion rate—tied with Josh Allen—fourth‑best passer rating (109.1) among qualified QBs, and a league‑best 2% interception‑worthy throw rate with just one pick all season. The Falcons sit 3‑2 with Penix, a record that could have been 4‑1 without the loss to the Ravens. While some situational throws need refinement and his ACL recovery remains a concern, the stats suggest he can be the long‑term answer if he stays healthy.
Ravens rookie guard Vega Ioane, the 14th‑overall pick who has allowed just eight pressures in 225 pass‑blocking snaps, suffers an MCL sprain in the Week 7 loss to the Bengals and is expected to miss the Week 8 showdown with Buffalo. While the injury is short‑term, he won’t suit up against the Bills. The Ravens may fill the gap with veteran Andrew Vorhees or 2025 third‑rounder Emery Jones, both of whom have limited experience at guard. Ioane’s absence could impact Baltimore’s run game and pass protection heading into the crucial divisional clash.
The Ravens fell to 4-3 after a 35-13 loss to the Bengals in Week 7, with the second half seeing the team shut out while Cincinnati surged. Standout performers included Zay Flowers, who logged eight catches for 137 yards and a TD, veteran safety K’Von Wallace’s key pressure and forced fumble, rookie center Cam Jurgens’ solid debut (only one pressure allowed), and defensive end Travis Jones’ three pressures. The losers were backup QB Tyler Huntley, who went 0-0 in the second half and threw a costly interception, linemen Roger Rosengarten and John Simpson for sacks and penalties, Derrick Henry’s meager 45 yards on 17 carries, and defensive backs Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey for missed tackles and big plays allowed.
Ravens guard Vega Ioane suffers an MCL sprain in Week 7 against the Bengals, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The 22‑year‑old, a 2026 first‑round pick (14th overall) who signed a four‑year, $24.2 million rookie deal, is expected to miss a short stretch of time. Ioane has started seven games this season at guard and center after a decorated college career at Penn State, where he earned All‑Big 10 and All‑American honors.
With the NFL’s Nov. 10 trade deadline looming, Sportsnaut outlines a potential trade target for every one of the 32 clubs. The piece spotlights players like the injured Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner, who could fetch a late‑round pick to aid a rebuild, and Atlanta Falcons wideout Jerry Jeudy, a former Pro Bowler who might thrive under former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. It also mentions Baltimore’s secondary woes and a possible swap for former Eagle corner Tariq Woolen, Buffalo’s need for safety Amani Hooker to bolster a championship‑contending defense, and Carolina’s desire for Pro Bowl tackle Daron Payne to fix a porous front line. Each candidate is matched to a team’s current roster goals as the deadline draws near.
Week 7 AFC report cards reveal a mixed bag: the Broncos (A) dominate the Cardinals, while the Chiefs slip to D+ after a Seattle loss. The Bengals earn an A+ with a comeback win over the Ravens, who fall to D+. The Patriots sit at B‑, the Jets at C‑, and the Dolphins secure an A after beating New York. In the AFC South, the Titans earn B‑, the Colts D+, and the Texans C+. Bye weeks give the Bills, Chargers and Jaguars a reset. Grades highlight surprise victories and disappointing defeats across the conference.
The Ravens’ rookie offensive lineman Vega Ioane sprains his MCL against Cincinnati, but insiders say it’s a short‑term injury, allowing him to return sooner than feared. Ioane, who has split time at right guard and center, will likely miss a few snaps while Cam Jurgens fills in at center and the unit relies on Emery Jones Jr. or Andrew Vorhees at guard. The bigger concern remains Lamar Jackson, still sidelined with an ankle injury and with an uncertain return timeline. Baltimore sits 4‑3 and hopes Jackson is back for the Nov. 1 matchup at Buffalo.
The Buffalo Bills sit at 5‑1 and share the AFC lead, but head coach Joe Brady says the team isn’t satisfied after its Week 7 bye. Brady cites too many penalties, turnovers and missed third‑down stops, especially on defense where opponents linger and quarterbacks find success. Heading into Week 8 at home versus a healthy Lamar Jackson‑led Ravens, the Bills must tighten discipline and improve pass defense while staying healthy—Ed Oliver, D.J. Moore and Dalton Kincaid are hopeful to return. Brady warns the 5‑1 record won’t mask underlying flaws as Buffalo aims to convert the bye‑week fixes into a stronger performance.
The Bengals shocked the Ravens on Oct. 27, turning a 13‑0 halftime deficit into a 35‑0 second‑half surge, ending the game 35‑13. After a sluggish first half with just 59 yards and three first downs, the offense exploded for 298 yards, 19 first downs and five touchdowns, driven by Joe Burrow and a fiery halftime speech from Ja’Marr Chase. The piece also notes the team's struggling run game (third‑fewest rushing yards this season), highlights Dexter Lawrence’s impact on the defensive line, and questions the benching of rookie Shemar Stewart.
CBS reported that the Ravens were taken aback when star quarterback Lamar Jackson, who hadn’t played since Oct. 4, was ruled out of the Week 7 matchup against Cincinnati. Jackson, listed as day‑to‑day, told media his ankle was still painful but didn’t confirm availability, leading to speculation that he withdrew on Saturday. Coach Jesse Minter denied being “shocked,” saying Jackson is working hard to return and will be evaluated Wednesday. Backup Tyler Huntley started, and the Bengals won 35‑13. The two teams meet again on Thursday Night Football Dec. 31 in Cincinnati.