Lamar Jackson is coming back. Baltimore Ravens coach Jesse Minter said on Friday that Jackson will start Sunday’s game at the Buffalo Bills after missing three games with a high ankle sprain, the biggest news on the first day of game statuses for Week 8. The New England Patriots listed A.J. Brown as questionable for Sunday at the Miami Dolphins after he missed a second straight practice, Saquon Barkley returned to the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice field while DeVonta Smith stayed out, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ruled out Emeka Egbuka again. The Tennessee Titans listed rookie receiver Carnell Tate and running back Tyjae Spears as doubtful.
- Ravens: Jackson will start at Buffalo, Jaylinn Hawkins will not play, and Vega Ioane has a chance to return from his MCL sprain
- Patriots: A.J. Brown (knee, ankle) and TreVeyon Henderson (illness) are questionable against Miami
- Eagles: Barkley practiced on Friday after missing two days, while DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks did not practice all week
- Buccaneers: Egbuka (foot) is out for a second straight game, and the Atlanta Falcons ruled out Brian Robinson Jr.
- Titans: Tate, Spears and punter Tommy Townsend are doubtful at the Cincinnati Bengals
- Chiefs: Rashee Rice will play at Denver, but rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane did not practice
- Bills: DJ Moore, Dalton Kincaid, Spencer Brown, Dee Alford and Greg Gaines are questionable against Baltimore
- Vikings: Aaron Jones Sr. has no game status, and Jay Ward is the only Minnesota player with one
Lamar Jackson will start at Buffalo
Jackson was a full participant for the third straight day on Friday, and Minter left no doubt afterward. “We do think we’ll have Lamar this week, so go ahead and put that out there,” he said. He sat out last week’s game against the Bengals because the left ankle swelled again. He said he still feels pain when he plants his foot, “but it’s bearable,” and that the ankle is better than it was a week ago. “I’m no longer a statue,” he said.
The rest of Baltimore’s week also went well. Kyle Hamilton and Roquan Smith practiced again on Friday after returning on Thursday, and the only players who sat out were Hawkins and two veterans who usually rest on Fridays, Ronnie Stanley and Calais Campbell. Minter said Hawkins (knee) will not play. Ioane, the right guard, practiced for the second day in a row, and Minter said it was a credit to him that he had given himself a chance to play.
A.J. Brown is questionable for the Patriots
Brown was not seen during the open part of Friday’s practice and did not take part for the second straight day after a knee issue flared up on Thursday. Mike Vrabel called him questionable and said the team will see how he is on Saturday before deciding. Running back TreVeyon Henderson, who has been sick, is also questionable for the trip to Miami.
Across the field, Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said rookie left guard Kadyn Proctor is unlikely to play because of a concussion.
Saquon Barkley is back at Eagles practice, DeVonta Smith is not
Barkley, who has hamstring and back injuries, was on the field for Philadelphia’s last practice of the week after missing Wednesday and Thursday, and he said he hopes to play on Sunday night against the Washington Commanders. “We’ll see at the end of this,” Nick Sirianni said on Friday morning. Smith (hamstring), Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), Jihaad Campbell (hamstring, quad), Britain Covey (knee) and Jonathan Jones (hamstring) were all absent again. Without Smith, Wicks and Covey, the Eagles would be left with Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, Elijah Moore and Hollywood Brown at receiver. The Eagles’ official game statuses were still to come on Friday afternoon.
Washington will be without defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, who was ruled out with a knee injury.
Egbuka out again, Tate and Spears doubtful
Tampa Bay ruled out Egbuka for Sunday’s game against the Falcons. He was limited on Wednesday and Thursday while in the concussion protocol, and a foot injury will keep him out for a second straight week. Atlanta ruled out running back Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) and listed eight players as questionable.
In Tennessee, Robert Saleh said Tate (shoulder), Spears (knee) and Townsend (left knee) would not practice on Friday and are doubtful for the game in Cincinnati.
Chiefs, Bills and Vikings
Andy Reid said Rashee Rice (hamstring) will play at Denver and that R Mason Thomas missed Friday’s practice for personal reasons but will also play. Everyone else on the report worked except Delane, who watched without a helmet. “We’ll just see where he’s at,” Reid said of the rookie, adding that it is the same shoulder that has been bothering him.
Bills coach Joe Brady said right tackle Spencer Brown (back), tight end Dalton Kincaid (chest), receiver DJ Moore (shoulder), nickel cornerback Dee Alford (ankle) and defensive tackle Greg Gaines will be questionable against the Ravens. Gaines tweaked his lower body during Friday’s practice.
Minnesota’s final report cleared Aaron Jones Sr., who was limited on Thursday with a knee injury. Safety Jay Ward (knee) is the only Viking with a designation for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions.
Elsewhere, the New York Jets ruled out defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat (knee), listed running back Breece Hall (quad) as questionable and edge rusher David Bailey (groin) as doubtful against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Cleveland Browns listed right tackle Tytus Howard (concussion) as questionable at Pittsburgh, and the Arizona Cardinals said running back Jeremiyah Love will play at Dallas.
Friday game statuses at a glance
| Player | Team | Injury | Friday status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar Jackson, QB | Ravens | Ankle | Will start, per Jesse Minter |
| Jaylinn Hawkins, S | Ravens | Knee | Will not play |
| Vega Ioane, G | Ravens | Knee (MCL) | Practiced, has a chance to play |
| A.J. Brown, WR | Patriots | Knee, ankle | Questionable |
| TreVeyon Henderson, RB | Patriots | Illness | Questionable |
| Saquon Barkley, RB | Eagles | Hamstring, back | Practiced Friday, status to come |
| DeVonta Smith, WR | Eagles | Hamstring | Did not practice all week |
| Dontayvion Wicks, WR | Eagles | Ankle | Did not practice all week |
| Emeka Egbuka, WR | Buccaneers | Foot | Out |
| Brian Robinson Jr., RB | Falcons | Hamstring | Out |
| Carnell Tate, WR | Titans | Shoulder | Doubtful |
| Tyjae Spears, RB | Titans | Knee | Doubtful |
| Rashee Rice, WR | Chiefs | Hamstring | Will play, per Andy Reid |
| Mansoor Delane, CB | Chiefs | Shoulder | Did not practice Friday |
| DJ Moore, WR | Bills | Shoulder | Questionable |
| Dalton Kincaid, TE | Bills | Chest | Questionable |
| Spencer Brown, T | Bills | Back | Questionable |
| Aaron Jones Sr., RB | Vikings | Knee | No game status |
| Javon Kinlaw, DT | Commanders | Knee | Out |
| Breece Hall, RB | Jets | Quad | Questionable |
What to watch on Saturday
The Eagles, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions still had their final reports to come on Friday. Watch for Barkley’s and Smith’s official designations, Jaylen Waddle, Zach Allen and Talanoa Hufanga in Denver, a possible injured reserve move for Derwin James, and the Patriots’ decision on Brown on Saturday. Teams can also elevate practice squad players and make injured reserve moves on Saturday. Thursday’s official reports and the Christian Watson news are here, and Thursday’s practice news is here.
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