Lamar Jackson was back for the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, but the relief was short-lived as the star quarterback picked up another injury, and Baltimore fell 36-10 to the Bills.

Jackson hurt his right thumb on the first play, and head coach Jesse Minter later confirmed that the injury will require surgery and send him to injured reserve for at least four games. His backup, Tyler “Snoop” Huntley, stepped in, only to suffer a toe injury of his own in the second quarter, further complicating an already precarious quarterback situation for Baltimore.

Shannon Sharpe, however, believes the Ravens may already have missed out on an intriguing solution. On the latest episode of “Nightcap,” Sharpe discussed Baltimore’s depleted quarterback room with Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and Joe Johnson before revisiting Shedeur Sanders, whom the Ravens reportedly considered drafting in 2025.

Shannon Sharpe Points to Shedeur Sanders’ Missed Opportunity

“Hey, you think Snoop would be back next week or no?” Ochocinco asked Sharpe. The three-time Super Bowl winner was not optimistic. “No, I doubt it. I doubt it, Ocho. He might be done for the year… That toe, Ocho, that toe bent.”

Ochocinco then brought up how slowly turf toe heals, and Sharpe said he knew exactly how long it takes.

Then Sharpe circled back to his original thought. “I know a guy that’d been a great situation for,” he started, before Johnson cut in. “Oh, you talking about 2,” Ochocinco said, referring to Sanders and his jersey number. Sharpe confirmed it. “It would’ve been a great situation for him, wouldn’t it?” he said.

Sharpe’s comment carried added significance because Sanders reportedly had the opportunity to become a Raven in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Baltimore planned to select him with the No. 141 overall pick in the fifth round, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, but Sanders let the team know that he did not want to join a roster with Jackson, where his path to playing time would have been blocked.

The Ravens instead selected offensive lineman Carson Vinson, while Cleveland took Sanders three picks later at No. 144. At the time, avoiding a long-term backup role behind the two-time MVP made sense from Sanders’ perspective.

In light of Baltimore’s current injury crisis, however, Sharpe’s point is that the situation looks very different now: had Sanders landed with the Ravens, he could have been in position to compete for immediate playing time with Jackson and Huntley sidelined.

Sanders ranked 36th, the third-worst in the league, in Pro Football Network’s QB Impact Ratings last season. He completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions as a rookie. Sanders opened his rookie season as Cleveland’s third-string quarterback behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel before eventually taking over in Week 12 and going 3-4 across seven starts.

Sanders has largely watched from the sidelines this season as Watson’s backup in Cleveland. He did get a brief opportunity in Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, stepping in after Watson headed to the blue medical tent following a hit.

The Ravens are 4-4, with Jackson set to miss at least four games and Huntley’s immediate status uncertain. With the November 10 trade deadline approaching, Baltimore could use some reinforcements, bringing renewed attention to the quarterback it nearly drafted a year ago.

The logic behind Sharpe’s hypothetical is straightforward. Baltimore suddenly needs quarterback depth, while Sanders remains behind Watson in Cleveland. Had Sanders accepted the Ravens’ interest in 2025, the opportunity for playing time that appeared unlikely then could have arrived now.

There has been no publicly reported contact between the Ravens and Browns regarding Sanders. Their shared AFC North rivalry could also complicate any hypothetical deal between the division rivals.

With a Thursday night showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars coming up, Baltimore faces a race against the clock to sort out its quarterback situation. There is little time to bring in an outside option and prepare him for the game, potentially leaving undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano as Baltimore’s top available option depending on Huntley’s status.