Ravens' Jesse Minter declines to confirm reports about potential Lamar Jackson return this season

Recent reports suggested that one reason the Baltimore Ravens recently completed a trade with the Arizona Cardinals for journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett is that Baltimore starter Lamar Jackson could possibly return to action for the club's Week 16 home game against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 27.

Jackson is expected to miss roughly six to 10 weeks due to the injury to the thumb on his throwing hand that he suffered in a Week 8 loss to the Buffalo Bills back on Nov. 1. While speaking with reporters on Monday, Ravens head coach Jesse Minter was asked about Jackson's future availability.

Ravens to keep Lamar Jackson situation private for as long as he wants

"You know, I’m going to keep most of the conversations between Lamar and I between Lamar and I," Minter said, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk and the Ravens' website. "Again, just like before, it’s a guy when you’re dealing with something that no one wants to be on the field more. He’s probably going to do everything he can to put himself in position [to play]. But I’ll leave it at that." 

Minter declined to say whether Jackson needs or has already had surgery on the thumb. The coach also neither confirmed nor denied that Jackson suffered a fracture. 

When Lamar Jackson could make a decision about a possible in-game return

Primary Ravens backup Tyler Huntley went down with a season-ending toe injury on Nov. 1, so Brissett is on track to start when 4-5 Baltimore hosts the 0-8 Los Angeles Chargers for a "Monday Night Football" game on Nov. 16. 

Meanwhile, NFL and Ravens insider Jason La Canfora noted for a Sports Illustrated article published on Monday that "the number of people Jackson actually confides in seems to grow smaller by the years." 

"He is going to make the decision he needs to make, at the appropriate time, in the best interest of his health and career based on the information available whenever he is close to being cleared to play again," La Canfora added about Jackson possibly returning to the Baltimore lineup this season. "That's a good six weeks down the line." 

La Canfora hinted that Jackson, who will be the subject of trade rumors unless he signs a contract extension before the offseason gets underway, will only play again during the ongoing campaign if it "truly makes sense in the standings and...only if [the Ravens look] like a football team that could muster anything in the postseason." 

As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Ravens as 5.5-point home favorites over the Chargers.