Lamar Jackson's thumb injury complicates his contract future with the Ravens
A high ankle sprain was replaced by a thumb fracture that sidelines the quarterback indefinitely, leaving Baltimore with difficult salary cap decisions for the 2027 season.
By Lucas Navarro ·
Lamar Jackson missed Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills after injuring his right thumb during a pass attempt.
The Ravens placed the quarterback on injured reserve, requiring surgery that keeps him out indefinitely. Jackson had just returned from a three-game absence due to a high ankle sprain. His return lasted only one offensive play before he collided with edge rusher Greg Rousseau.
This injury adds pressure to an already complex contractual situation. Jackson is in the fourth year of a five-year deal that currently makes him the NFL’s highest-paid player. His 2027 salary cap number stands at $84.34 million. This figure is the second highest in the league next year, behind only Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Ravens face a tough financial path if they keep Jackson at that cap number. Baltimore has $366.74 million in committed salary cap space for 2027. They have less than $1.4 million in existing cap space to carry over from the current season. The 2027 salary cap is projected to range between $322.5 million and $327.5 million.
Jackson holds strong leverage because his contract includes a no-trade clause. It also prevents the Ravens from using a franchise or transition tag after his contract expires following the 2027 season. Reports indicate that Jackson, who represents himself, resisted an extension earlier in the year. The team instead restructured his deal to create $39.96 million in cap room for the current season.
Durability concerns may influence negotiations. Jackson has missed games this season and the last with injuries to his hamstring, ankle, toe, knee, back, and now thumb. He has appeared in 18 of 34 regular season games over the past two years. Despite this, his recent performance was strong. In four games this season, he completed 70.8% of passes for 967 yards and six touchdowns.
A trade remains possible but complicated. Moving Jackson before June 1 would create $74.81 million in dead money for Baltimore. Waiting until after June 1 would split that cost, creating $32.34 million in dead money for 2027 and $42.47 million for 2028. This delay saves the team $52 million in immediate cap space but requires holding his large cap number until the trade deadline.
