# Lamar Jackson’s thumb recovery timeline

> Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s thumb injury recovery spans 6-10 weeks, experts say.
- Title: Lamar Jackson’s thumb recovery timeline · The Banner
- Summary: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s thumb injury recovery spans 6-10 weeks, experts say. lamar jackson, ravens, thumb injury · reported by The Banner.
- Keywords: lamar jackson, ravens, thumb injury, nfl, james minter, m. brian polsky, ulnar collateral ligament, ravens quarterback, The Banner
- Source: The Banner — https://thebanner.com/sports/ravens-nfl/ravens-lamar-jackson-thumb-surgery-injury-recovery-weeks-QJ45W3R5TNARXJQTB6WW5HHSU4
- Author: Jonas Shaffer
- Published: 2026-11-14T12:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: lamar jackson, ravens, thumb injury, nfl, james minter, m. brian polsky, ulnar collateral ligament, ravens quarterback, news, local
## Jackson’s thumb injury
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson suffered a broken thumb during a Nov. 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

> The broken and dislocated thumb that Ravens coach Jesse Minter said Jackson suffered in a Nov. 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills is a risk common on the slopes, too.
## Skier’s thumb injury
Jackson’s injury is a skier’s thumb, where the ligament on the inside of the thumb’s main knuckle is strained or torn.

> One such injury, in which the ligament on the inside of the thumb’s main knuckle is strained or torn, is known as skier’s thumb.
## Recovery timeline
Ravens coach Jesse Minter said thumb injuries like Jackson’s typically take six to ten weeks to heal after surgery.

> Minter said in a statement Friday that thumb injuries like Jackson’s typically take about six to ten weeks to heal after surgery.
## Dr. Polsky’s analysis
Dr. M. Brian Polsky, an orthopedic surgeon, said Jackson’s recovery depends on ligament damage severity and fracture type.

> Jackson’s timetable depends, in part, on the type of fracture he suffered, the severity of the fracture and the severity of the dislocation.
## UCL rupture
Jackson almost certainly ruptured his thumb’s ulnar collateral ligament, which stabilizes grip and hand strength.

> Jackson "almost certainly" ruptured his thumb’s ulnar collateral ligament, said Polsky, pointing to the nature of the injury.
## Recovery challenges
After surgery, Jackson’s thumb muscles may weaken, requiring months of rehabilitation to regain grip strength.

> At the base of the thumb, forming a fleshy bulge known as the thenar eminence, are three short muscles responsible for the thumb’s fine motor movements, including grabbing and gripping objects.
## Ravens’ return timeline
Jackson could return in 6-10 weeks, but the Ravens cannot afford to rush him back before his grip strength returns.

> The Ravens cannot afford to rush Jackson back; the thumb is the most important digit for gripping and throwing a football.
## Key takeaway

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s thumb injury recovery timeline is uncertain, taking 6-10 weeks after surgery.