OTL: Ravens Get Healthier, Add DE Carl Lawson

Happy Purple Friday, Flock. I know things don’t feel too festive around here in the ol’ 2025, but if there was ever a time for things to turn around, it’s now (or never).

The injury report looks better than it has since Week 1, and that’s exactly what you want and expect coming off a bye week.

Injury Report: Ravens vs. Bears (Thursday)

Of course the headliner is QB1 returning to practice for two straight days. If you believe something called “NFL Talk Sports” on X (you be the judge), Lamar Jackson is indeed expected to be on the field Sunday.

Breaking:

Ravens’ QB Lamar Jackson, who has the missed the last 2 games due to a hamstring injury, is expected to play Week 8 vs. the Bears, per league source.

— NFL Talk (@NFL_Talk_Sports) October 24, 2025

We’ll find out more when the team takes the field for practice here in a bit, but the expectation is for Jackson to again be out there at 1 Winning Drive.

Just as important though, is that Pat Ricard looks poised to suit up for the first time all season. Jackson and Derrick Henry have to be praising the heavens to see 42 blocking again. If Lamar isn’t 100%, getting the running game going (and protecting the QB better) will be tantamount, and since the hardheads on the coaching staff seem married to the current offensive line, Project Pat is the next best thing to getting an actual competent guard or two.

P0und the rock, possess the ball, and stay ahead of the chains. Play Raven football for once, eh?

And on the other side of the ball, the secondary is getting healthier, with Chidobe Awuzie expected to play for the first time since KC, and Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton both practicing fully as well. Throw in Roquan Smith‘s return, and Alohi Gilman having a couple more weeks to study the system, and it’s fair to hope for a return to something resembling a competent defense in Baltimore, isn’t it?

TBD, I suppose.

Potentially helping matters is a newly-signed pass-rusher.

We have signed DE Carl Lawson to the Practice Squad and released TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden.

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 24, 2025

Carl Lawson is only on the practice squad for now, but if he shows in practice that he’s in shape and still has a move or two, I say throw him in there for a handful of situational snaps on Sunday. Why the heck not?

I know he isn’t the big-name some in the fan base were hoping for, but remember that EDC plucked both Kyle Van Noy and Jadeveon Clowney off the couch in a similar fashion two years ago, with pretty positive results. Lawson, 30, had five sacks for Dallas in 2024.

With Miami and a clearly struggling Minnesota team next up, three wins before heading to Cleveland doesn’t seem out of the question. A 4-5 record on the horizon?

Yeah, I’m trying to talk myself into it, I admit it. For now, let’s just see the first one. Please?

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