Lamar Jackson Returns to Full Practice After 3-Game Absence
Jackson practiced in full Wednesday for the first time since his ankle injury, while Lions safety Kerby Joseph opened his 21-day window.
Full practice after three games out — if he's active, he's a locked-in QB1.
- Jackson missed last 3 Ravens games with ankle injury
- First full practice since the injury (Wednesday)
- Kerby Joseph opened 21-day window, limited Wed
- Joseph missed final 11 games of 2025 season
- Matthew Golden (10th, 512 rec yds) questionable
Lamar Jackson is trending back. The Ravens quarterback, who's missed Baltimore's last three games with an ankle injury, returned to a full practice on Wednesday — the first time he's done that since getting hurt. That's the clearest signal yet that he's closing in on a return, and for anyone who's been streaming a QB in his absence, it's the news you've been waiting for.
Over in Detroit, the Lions got their own boost: All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph had his 21-day practice window opened and took the field for the first time this season, albeit in a limited capacity. Joseph sat out the final 11 games of 2025 with what's been described as a degenerative knee condition, so even a limited rep is meaningful. IDP managers in deep leagues should start paying attention.
Packers and Panthers Limp Into Thursday Night
Thursday's Carolina-Green Bay matchup looks more like a MASH unit than a prime-time showcase. The Panthers will be without Jaelan Phillips, Akayleb Evans, Damien Lewis (knee) and backup lineman Torricelli Simpkins (knee), none of whom practiced all week. Green Bay counters with its own patchwork: linebacker Zaire Franklin (shin) is out again, and the Packers will field a new-look offensive line after losing center Sean Rhyan (ankle) and right guard Travis Glover (knee).
The receiver to watch there is Matthew Golden (shoulder/foot), who ranks 10th in the NFL with 512 receiving yards. He's questionable after skipping Monday and Tuesday before logging a limited walkthrough Wednesday. If he suits up behind a reshuffled line, treat him as a volatile flex rather than a confident start.
Backfield Notes and the Rest of the Wire
The Jets backfield is worth a glance: Breece Hall (quad) and Braelon Allen (ankle) were both limited Wednesday. Hall carries our #58 overall rank (RB19) on the back of 43 PPR points through just three 2026 games, while Allen sits at #80 (RB21) with 76 PPR points over seven games — and he's actually trending up, averaging +1.9 fantasy points over his last five versus his season mark. If Hall's quad lingers, Allen becomes a sneaky stash.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) didn't practice for the Lions, though it reads more maintenance than alarm. He's our #25 overall player and WR5, with 128 PPR points and 525 receiving yards through six games in 2026 — nobody's benching him unless he's actually ruled out. His recent dip (-1.5 fantasy points over his last five) is noise, not a trend.
Bottom line: keep Jackson active and monitor Baltimore's final injury designations closely, because a full Wednesday practice usually means a green light is coming. Golden is a gamble, St. Brown stays locked in, and Allen is your best speculative add off this report.
