Lamar Jackson Logs Full Ravens Practice Before Bills

Lamar Jackson jogged onto the practice field Wednesday in a helmet and pads, and for Ravens fans who have watched three straight games without him, that one jog felt bigger than any highlight from last week. The two-time MVP has been out since hurting his left ankle against the Titans on Oct. 4, and his ankle was still wrapped as Baltimore opened its week of work for Sunday's trip to Buffalo.

The stakes are simple. Baltimore went 1-2 without him, beating Atlanta in overtime and then dropping AFC North games to Cleveland and Cincinnati. The Ravens scored 10 points against the Browns and 13 in Sunday's 35-13 loss to the Bengals, and they were shut out in the second half of both losses. The Bills are 5-1 and coming off their bye.

Full Means Something This Time

Then the official injury report came out, and it listed Jackson as a full participant. That is his first full practice since Oct. 2. It matters because he was limited in all three practices last week, was listed as questionable, and still ended up inactive against Cincinnati. Head coach Jesse Minter would not reveal his participation level after practice, but the report did the talking.

Jackson himself made it clear last week that he will not play at half speed. "I'm restricted. Like I can't really do what I do. So I'm not helping nobody if I can just go out there and be a statue and get hit," he said. Minter has also said the team will not rush him. On the other side, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that he expects Jackson to play against Buffalo.

A full practice is the box everybody in Baltimore was waiting to see checked, and repeating it Thursday and Friday is what would really lock it in.

What Baltimore Gets Back

Before the injury, Jackson completed 68 of 96 passes for 967 yards, six touchdowns and one interception, a 119.6 passer rating. He added 144 rushing yards and a score on 19 carries. Backup Tyler Huntley has kept the offense afloat, but the second-half shutouts tell you how much the attack misses its engine.

His teammates said as much. "It's going to be a big boost [if he plays]," left tackle Ronnie Stanley said. "Lamar is the best player in the NFL." Derrick Henry called him the "heart and soul of this team."

Jackson at even 90 percent changes how every defense has to line up against Henry.

The Other Names on the Report

Jackson was not the only Raven worth watching. Linebacker Roquan Smith, safety Kyle Hamilton, guard Vega Ioane and safety Jaylinn Hawkins all did not practice with knee injuries, and defensive lineman Calais Campbell got a rest day. Minter called some of those absences "typical after-game things." Rookie running back Adam Randall returned as a full participant, opening his 21-day window off injured reserve.

Buffalo got good news too, with defensive tackle Ed Oliver back at practice as a limited participant after missing two games with a knee injury. Right tackle Spencer Brown was the only Bill who did not practice, and starting safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is suspended for Sunday. The Bills defense has given up the third-most points per game in the league, so a healthy Jackson would be walking into a soft spot.

If Smith and Hamilton both sit, this game swings toward a shootout no matter who is under center for Baltimore.

Smacktok Pick Lean

Ravens at Bills kicks off Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Lean higher on Jackson's passing yards over his rushing. He finally logged a full practice, but the ankle was still wrapped and he has not played since Oct. 4, so expect him to lean on his arm against a Bills defense that has allowed the third-most points per game and will be without Gardner-Johnson.