Lamar Jackson says he is “no longer a statue,” asks “Why would you second-guess me?” and says he won’t manage his ankle in his return at Buffalo

A week after saying he could not play if he was stuck in the pocket, Lamar Jackson is set to return Sunday at Buffalo after missing three games with a high ankle sprain. “Yeah, I feel like I’m no longer a statue, man,” he said on Friday. “I’m able to move around a little better so I can give it a shot.”

Jackson said he still feels pain when he plants, but “it’s bearable.” He explained that he was ruled out a day before last Sunday’s game because his ankle was swollen when he woke up. “The swelling came back into it,” he said.

Asked about people who doubt whether he would play hurt, Jackson repeated the question twice: “Why would you second-guess me?” He added: “People are always going to say what they’re gonna say. I’m gonna always play football.”

Baltimore went 1-2 without him and is 4-3. Jackson defended first-year coach Jesse Minter. “It’s four and three right now. Last year we was one and five,” he said. “We’re better than we was last year.” His message to teammates: “Everybody do their job.”

With a Thursday game against Jacksonville four days later, Jackson said he will not protect the ankle. “When we out there playing football, I’m not thinking about trying to manage anything. I’m trying to win,” he said. The Ravens play at the Bills on Sunday, November 1, at 1 p.m. ET.