Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson's anticipated return to the starting lineup took a troubling turn Sunday afternoon when the two-time NFL MVP appeared to injure his throwing hand on the team's first offensive play against the Buffalo Bills.

Jackson immediately left the field and headed to the locker room for further evaluation, forcing Baltimore to turn to backup quarterback Tyler Huntley. According to Brian Wacker and Jeff Zrebiec, Jackson appeared to injure his hand or arm after making contact with a Buffalo defender's helmet. Video of the play appeared to show Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau making contact with Jackson's throwing hand.

The nature and severity of the injury were not immediately known, and the Ravens had not issued an official injury designation at the time of the initial reports. It was also unclear whether Jackson suffered a structural injury, a cut or another issue requiring attention from the team's medical staff.

The development comes at a particularly difficult time for Baltimore, which entered Sunday's matchup at 4-3 after consecutive losses to the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals.

Lamar Jackson's return to Ravens lineup ends abruptly

Jackson returned to action Sunday after missing Baltimore's previous three games because of a high ankle sprain sustained against the Tennessee Titans in Week 4. The Ravens went 1-2 during his absence, losing consecutive AFC North matchups while struggling to generate consistent offensive production.

The quarterback practiced fully throughout the week and was cleared to start against Buffalo without an injury designation. Head coach Jesse Minter announced Friday that Jackson would return, providing a significant boost for an offense that had struggled without its most important playmaker.

Jackson entered the matchup having completed 70.8% of his passes for 967 yards, six touchdowns and one interception in four starts this season. Baltimore averaged 29 points in those games, compared with 17.7 points during Huntley's three starts. The difference illustrated Jackson's importance to an offense built around his passing ability, mobility and partnership with running back Derrick Henry. NFL+1

His apparent injury on Baltimore's first offensive play created another unexpected challenge for a team hoping his return would help reverse its recent slide.

Tyler Huntley replaces Jackson against Buffalo

Huntley entered the game after Jackson headed to the locker room, returning to the role he occupied during Baltimore's previous three games. The veteran quarterback helped the Ravens defeat the New Orleans Saints in Week 5 before losses to Cleveland and Cincinnati dropped Baltimore to the bottom of the AFC North standings.

Huntley entered Sunday having completed 69.8% of his passes for 727 yards, four touchdowns and one interception across four appearances this season. His most recent start came against Cincinnati, when he threw for 298 yards and a touchdown but could not prevent the Bengals from scoring 35 unanswered points in a 35-13 defeat.

Baltimore's offense has struggled to maintain consistency without Jackson, particularly after halftime. The Ravens failed to score a second-half point in their previous two games, putting additional pressure on Minter and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle to generate more dependable production.

Huntley's familiarity with the offense provides Baltimore with an experienced replacement, but losing Jackson again would represent a significant setback against a Buffalo team that entered Week 8 with a 5-1 record and one of the NFL's highest-scoring offenses.

Ravens await update on Jackson's throwing hand

Baltimore entered Sunday's matchup needing a victory to improve its standing in the AFC playoff race, making Jackson's early departure particularly concerning. The Ravens already were dealing with injuries along the offensive line, including the absence of rookie right guard Vega Ioane because of an MCL sprain.

Jackson's ability to return will depend on the medical evaluation of his throwing hand, and the Ravens will need to determine whether he can safely grip and deliver the football if he is cleared to resume playing.

For now, Huntley will direct the offense while Baltimore awaits additional information about its starting quarterback. Jackson's return was expected to provide a much-needed boost after three games on the sideline, but his latest injury scare has created another major question for a Ravens team attempting to recover from consecutive losses.

Update

Jackson is questionable to return with a thumb injury suffered on the Ravens' first offensive play.