Lamar Jackson’s Ankle Injury: What We Know, What We Don’t, and What Recovery Looks Like
R2P Injury Breakdown | Week of October 12, 2026 | By Dr. Zach Baker, DPT, SCS
Jackson is not an R2P patient. This breakdown draws on public reporting and describes how ankle sprains typically present and recover, not his specific diagnosis or care.
Lamar Jackson injured his left ankle on the final offensive play of the first half against the Titans, and the Ravens have called it an ankle sprain without releasing further details. That label covers a wide range: a mild sprain can cost days, while severe or high ankle sprains can mean six weeks or longer. The current physical therapy clinical practice guideline for ankle sprains (JOSPT, 2021) supports early, progressive rehab and a return to sport based on function, not just time. Here is what an ankle sprain can mean and what recovery looks like.
What We Know About Lamar Jackson’s Ankle Injury
Lamar Jackson was injured on the final offensive play of the first half against the Tennessee Titans. Jackson was doing what few others can do as well as him, eluding pressure and buying more time in the pocket, when ultimately, a Titans defensive end dove at him and landed on his ankle while completing the sack. He did not return for the second half and was seen leaving M&T Bank Stadium in a walking boot on his left foot and underwent an MRI the following day.
The Ravens ruled him out of Sunday Night Football against the Falcons with an ankle sprain, and Tyler Huntley started in his place (NBC Sports). Huntley led an amazing overtime comeback for the Ravens against the Falcons, but fans are still left wondering when their franchise QB will return to the field.
Details regarding the severity of the injury and what was specifically injured in the ankle have not been revealed. In this article, we are not going to make assumptions or guess on those details. Instead, we’ll explain what “ankle sprain” can mean, why recovery timelines vary so widely, and what a well-run rehab looks like from day one to game day.
One Term, a Wide Range of Injuries
Types and Grades of Ankle Sprains
A sprain is an injury to a ligament, the tissue that connects bone to bone and helps to stabilize a joint. “Ankle sprain” is an umbrella term that covers very different injuries.
The most common is a lateral sprain, about 85-90% of them, where the foot rolls inward and stresses the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. A high ankle sprain involves the ligaments that bind the two lower leg bones together just above the joint, and these typically take longer to heal. Sprains are also graded by severity, from a mild stretch (Grade I) to a partial tear (Grade II) to a complete tear (Grade III). If the sprain is severe, sometimes it can stress the bones as well and you need to be mindful of fractures or other bony injuries that can drastically change the rehab approach or even introduce potential surgical intervention.
Ankle Sprain Recovery Timelines
The amount of time away from competition changes with all of these variables. A mild sprain may cost days to a couple of weeks. A moderate sprain often means several weeks. Severe or high ankle sprains can mean six weeks or longer, and some require surgery. That’s why two players with the same “ankle sprain” label can have completely different timelines.
The Timing Question: Back Sooner or Later?
Return-to-play decisions are never just about the injury. They weigh the healing tissue against the stakes of the moment. You are ultimately creating a risks vs rewards scenario and seeing what is the most favorable timeline that all parties are comfortable with.
When to Come Back
Coming back earlier keeps an athlete competing and can maintain conditioning and rhythm. The risk: returning before strength, balance, and stability are restored raises the odds of reinjury, a longer second absence, or compensations that strain the knee, hip, or opposite leg. We not only need to consider the athlete’s strength, balance, stability, but also whether the injured tissue has had enough time to recover and is durable enough for the demands of the sport.
Coming back later gives tissue time to heal and lets the athlete check every rehab box. The cost is time away from competition, and for professional athletes, that often has immediate and long term ramifications on their career, the team’s success and their ability to earn a paycheck.
Injured during the Season
Where the injury falls in the season shifts that balance. An injury in training camp or early weeks of the season leaves a long timeline ahead of them and a conservative approach can protect the athlete for the stretch that matters most. The same injury the week before the playoffs or the Super Bowl changes the calculus. Teams and athletes may accept more risk, lean on bracing, taping, and symptom management, and plan to finish full rehab in the offseason.
Off the Field Injury
The same logic applies off the field. A high school senior with three games left, a runner six weeks out from a marathon, and a weekend pickleball player with nothing on the calendar can have the same sprain and very different answers that may all seem “right” or “wrong” for their own personal scenario. Ultimately, it comes down to the individual being informed of the status of the injury, understanding traditional healing timeframes, their current and projected physical status and their own comfort level with the risks involved with the scenario.
What Ankle Sprain Recovery Looks Like
Phase 1: Calm It Down and Protect Healing
The first days focus on managing pain and swelling while protecting injured tissue. That can include a boot or brace, compression, elevation, and weight bearing as tolerated. Gentle, pain-free motion is encouraged and usually starts early as prolonged immobilization leads to stiffness and lost strength. Training the rest of the body continues wherever it’s safe as we want to preserve as much overall physical conditioning and abilities.
Phase 2: Restore Function
Once symptoms settle, the focus shifts to rebuilding what the injury took away. Restoring range of motion comes first. Strength work targeting the calf and shin are implemented early and are supplemented by activities that strengthen the entire lower extremity. We need to make sure the ankle can function in isolation, but also as a key driver of the entire body. Ensuring the athlete can get in and out of a variety of functional movements and positions is critical. Balance and proprioceptive training retrains the ankle’s position sense, which a sprain disrupts. It doesn’t matter how strong we are if we are building that strength on a shaky and unstable foundation.
Phase 3: Return to Play
The final phase prepares the ankle for the demands of the sport: hopping, landing, sprinting, cutting, and reacting. Progression is guided by criteria, not just the calendar. At R2P, we assess, don’t guess. That means objective testing, including VALD force plate and hop testing compared side to side and against normative data, plus sport-specific drills and the athlete’s own confidence in the ankle. A brace or tape may provide support during the transition back, but is often not required. Part of that comes down to patient confidence, comfort and preference.
For an athlete whose game depends on escaping pressure and changing direction at full speed, this phase is where readiness is proven.
Once the athlete demonstrates these physical abilities in a controlled environment, then they begin returning to practices and eventually playing in games. They start with non contact drills and non competitive drills and progress back to full games as able.
What This Means for You
Get it evaluated if it’s significant
If you can’t bear weight and take a few steps, have major swelling, or have tenderness directly over the bone, see a physician to rule out a fracture or a severe sprain.
Pain-free isn’t the finish line
Walking without pain doesn’t mean your ankle is ready for cutting, jumping, or a return to sport. Strength and balance work reduce the risk of the next sprain.
Your timeline should match your goals
The right return date depends on your injury and what you’re returning to. A clinician can help you weigh both.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Ravens have not announced a timeline or released details about the specific injury. Return will depend on the type and grade of the sprain, how rehab progresses, and where the team is in the season.
A lateral sprain, the most common type, happens when the foot rolls inward and stresses the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. A high ankle sprain involves the ligaments that bind the two lower leg bones together just above the joint and typically takes longer to heal.
See a physician if you can’t bear weight and take a few steps, have major swelling, or have tenderness directly over the bone, to rule out a fracture or a severe sprain.
Not necessarily. Walking without pain doesn’t mean your ankle is ready for cutting, jumping, or a return to sport. Return should be guided by objective criteria such as strength, balance, and hop testing.
A mild sprain may cost days to a couple of weeks. A moderate sprain often means several weeks. Severe or high ankle sprains can mean six weeks or longer, and some require surgery.
Rolled Your Ankle and It Still Doesn’t Feel Right?
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Dr. Zach Baker, DPT, SCS, is a board-certified sports clinical specialist at Rehab 2 Perform.