The "Is Lamar playing Week 8?" question basically defined the entire middle section of the Baltimore Ravens' chaotic 2025 season. Honestly, if you were refreshing your fantasy app every five minutes that October, you weren't alone. It was a mess. The Ravens were sitting at a brutal 1-5, their season was spiraling, and everyone—from the front office to the guys in the nosebleeds—was looking at Lamar Jackson’s right hamstring like it was the most fragile thing on Earth.
He hadn't touched the field since September 28th against the Chiefs. Then came the bye week. The hope was that the extra rest would be the magic fix. Coach John Harbaugh even told the media he "expected" his quarterback back for the Week 8 showdown against the Chicago Bears. But as the week actually rolled out, the "will he or won't he" drama got weirdly complicated.
What Really Happened with Lamar Jackson in Week 8
So, let's look at the facts. Jackson did return to practice that Monday after the bye. People saw him jogging. He was throwing. The vibes were high. But by Wednesday, he was still "limited." That’s usually the red flag. When a dual-threat guy like Lamar is limited, it means he can't yet hit that top-end speed that makes him, well, Lamar.
The Ravens were in a tough spot. They were 1-5 and desperately needed a win to keep the season alive, but they also had a Thursday Night Football game in Miami just four days after the Chicago game. Playing him in Week 8 meant risking a re-aggravation right before a short week.
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On Friday, October 24, 2025, the team listed him as a "full participant" initially, which sent the betting lines moving. But then, in a move that felt like a gut punch to fans, they downgraded him to "limited" again later that evening. On Saturday afternoon, the official word came down: Lamar Jackson was ruled out for Week 8 vs. the Chicago Bears.
The Fallout: Huntley vs. Rush
With Lamar sidelined, the Ravens had a massive decision. Cooper Rush had started the previous two games and, frankly, it was a disaster. He had zero touchdowns and four interceptions. The offense looked stagnant.
Harbaugh finally pulled the trigger on a change, starting Tyler "Snoop" Huntley instead. It turned out to be the right call. Huntley isn't Lamar, but he can run the same playbook. He's mobile. He keeps the defense honest.
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- Huntley's Week 8 Stat Line: 26/36 passing, 219 yards, and a crucial win.
- The Result: Ravens 30, Bears 16.
It was their first win without Lamar in what felt like forever. It stopped the four-game losing streak and proved the team could actually function if they didn't ask their backup to be a pure pocket passer.
Why the Injury Was So Frustrating for Fans
The hamstring injury happened on a slide in Kansas City. It didn't look like a season-ender at the time. But soft tissue injuries for a guy who relies on explosive movement are nightmares. If Lamar can't cut at 100%, he’s basically a stationary target behind a line that was already struggling in 2025.
What most people get wrong is the idea that the Ravens were just "playing it safe." By Week 8, they were almost out of the playoff race. There was real pressure for him to suit up. Internal reports later suggested the coaching staff wanted him out there, but the medical team wouldn't clear him for "full football activity" until he could sprint without discomfort.
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The Ravens are 5-12 without Jackson since 2019. That's a staggering drop-off. When he's in, they average over 28 points. When he's out? It drops to about 15. That 13-point "Lamar Tax" is why the Week 8 status was the only thing anyone in Baltimore cared about for fourteen days straight.
The Bigger Picture in 2026
Fast forward to where we are now in early 2026, and that Week 8 absence looks like a turning point. The Ravens eventually fought back to an 8-9 record, nearly stealing the division from the Steelers on the final day of the season.
But missing those early games—including that Week 8 scratched start—ultimately cost John Harbaugh his job. When you have a two-time MVP and you miss the playoffs, someone pays the price. Now, the talk isn't about hamstrings; it's about whether Lamar will have a say in who the next head coach is.
Actionable Steps for Tracking Player Status
If you're trying to figure out if a star is playing in a high-stakes week, stop looking at the "hopeful" quotes from coaches. They're usually just trying to mess with the opponent's game plan. Here is how you actually track it:
- The Wednesday Report: This is the baseline. If they don't practice Wednesday, they're likely not playing.
- The Friday "Downgrade": If a player goes from "Full" on Thursday to "Limited" on Friday, it's almost always a sign of a setback. That’s exactly what happened to Lamar in Week 8.
- The 90-Minute Mark: Official inactives are released 90 minutes before kickoff. Until that paper is signed, everything else is just speculation.
The 2025 season taught us that "hope" isn't a medical status. Lamar didn't play Week 8, and while the Ravens won that specific game, the weeks of uncertainty leading up to it defined their year.