Lamar Jackson returns from an ankle injury to lead the Baltimore Ravens against Buffalo on November 1, 2026, while New England deals with A.J. Brown’s knee and ankle issues as Week 8 brings major NFL lineup shifts across multiple franchises.
Injuries and anticipated returns dominate the NFL landscape as Week 8 reaches its Sunday slate. Teams across the league are adjusting their active rosters and managing game-time decisions as the regular season approaches its midway point. As the regular season nears its midway point, injuries are becoming a greater factor, with some teams hit hard by the injury bug while others avoid serious absences. Navigating these health updates is critical for securing a spot in the fantasy playoffs as the fantasy football regular season reaches the halfway mark on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026.
Lamar Jackson Returns for Baltimore Against Buffalo
The Baltimore Ravens welcome back quarterback Lamar Jackson for their critical matchup against the Buffalo Bills scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m. ET on CBS. Jackson missed the past three games with a high ankle sprain. The two-time MVP was a full participant at practice this week and carries no injury designation for the contest. Jackson admitted his ankle still hurt when he ran before a previous game, and Buffalo has changed to a 3-4 defensive scheme under Jim Leonhard, presenting an interesting test for the returning quarterback.
His return aims to revitalize an offense paired alongside running back Derrick Henry, who has struggled while Jackson was out. The Ravens need all the help they can get as they prepare to face the Bills and MVP front-runner Josh Allen.
New England Deals With A.J. Brown’s Knee and Ankle Injuries
The New England Patriots will face the Miami Dolphins with wide receiver A.J. Brown dealing with injuries. Brown popped up on the injury report after tweaking one of his oft-troublesome knees during Wednesday’s practice, rendering him unable to finish the session while dealing with an ankle injury as well. He is on the wrong side of questionable for New England’s matchup against Miami.
Ravens HC Jesse Minter announced that QB Lamar Jackson, who has missed the past three games due to a high ankle sprain, will start Sunday’s game at Buffalo.
We’ll see how he comes in tomorrow and we’ll make a decision.
Patriots coach
After being limited during the week and unable to practice Friday, Brown was downgraded. With Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins already out, DeMario Douglas is set to be the primary wide receiver in New England if Brown cannot go.
Rashee Rice Returns for Kansas City While Running Backs Shift Across Rosters
Kansas City welcomes back receiver Rashee Rice for their game against the Denver Broncos. Rice has no injury designation after practicing fully all week, taking back plenty of the routes in the Kansas City secondary.
Elsewhere across the league, injury statuses continue to reshape active lineups and create new opportunities:
- New York Jets running back Breece Hall is listed as questionable after three limited practices with a quad injury, making him unlikely to play. Braelon Allen remains healthy enough for his normal workload and has earned a real role, including an NFL-high 14 runs of 10 or more yards since Week 4.
- Denver rookie running back Jonah Coleman is prepared for an expanded workload following an 11-opportunity performance last week, stepping in due to a knee injury sidelining RJ Harvey. Coleman returned from an ankle injury last week and when asked if he is ready for a potentially bigger role on Sunday, he responded,
I’m ready for any opportunity I’m given
. Corey Kiner will also see some snaps for Denver. - Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is shaping up as a game-time decision and is expected to be limited even if active after missing practice earlier in the week due to hamstring and back issues. Elijah Mitchell is the projected starter for Sunday Night Football against the Washington Commanders if Barkley is unable to play, with the game scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 1, at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
- Minnesota running back Aaron Jones Sr. returned to practice Thursday and will play against the Lions in Week 8 after missing time with a knee injury. Last week, with Jordan Mason back, Jones was on the short side of a platoon.
Vikings and Lions Players Carry Injury Designations for Sunday
Sunday’s early and late-afternoon windows feature multiple high-stakes matchups carrying significant playoff and fantasy implications as coaching staffs submit their final inactive lists ahead of kickoff. Several additional players carry injury designations into the weekend:
For the Vikings and Lions, safety Jay Ward is questionable after appearing on the injury report Friday and practicing in a limited capacity, while Lions safety Kerby Joseph is out with a knee injury and cornerback Roger McCreary is questionable with a foot injury.
| Matchup | Key Player Status | Noteworthy Injury Details |
|---|---|---|
| Ravens vs. Bills | Lamar Jackson (Active) | Two-time MVP returns after missing three games with an ankle injury. |
| Patriots vs. Dolphins | A.J. Brown (Questionable) | Patriots receiver dealing with ongoing knee and ankle issues. |
| Chiefs vs. Broncos | Rashee Rice (Active) | Returns after practicing fully all week. |
| Jets vs. Raiders | Breece Hall (Questionable) | Quad injury leaves his workload uncertain behind Braelon Allen. |
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