OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returned to the practice field Wednesday, increasing the likelihood that he’ll play Sunday in the winner-take-all matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers to decide the AFC North.

Jackson has been dealing with a significant lower back contusion, the latest issue on a long list of injuries for the league’s two-time MVP during a frustrating 2025 season.

After sustaining the injury when he was kneed in the back by New England Patriots safety Craig Woodson in the second quarter of a Dec. 21 game, Jackson did not practice at all last week. He missed his fourth game this season in Baltimore’s 41-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said earlier this week that Jackson’s status was “to be determined” and that the team would know more Wednesday. That Jackson was able to practice in any capacity is a positive sign, given that he’s been regularly missing Wednesday practices for much of the year because of various injuries.

Jackson, 28, missed three games earlier this year with a hamstring injury, and he’s been knocked out early in two other contests. He’s also been on the injury report this season for knee, ankle, toe and back injuries, along with an illness.

He said before the Patriots’ game that he had moved beyond the other injuries, and then the back issue occurred.

The Ravens are 2-4 this season in games that Jackson has either been sidelined for or left early with injuries. However, backup Tyler Huntley has kept the Ravens alive in the AFC playoff picture, engineering victories over the Chicago Bears on Oct. 26 and the Packers last Saturday.

The win versus the Packers, coupled with Pittsburgh’s loss to the Cleveland Browns a day later, means the winner of Sunday’s game between the Ravens and Steelers will decide the AFC North. The winner will get the No. 4 seed and host an AFC wild-card game next weekend. The loser’s season will be over.

“I think the fact that we have a lot of confidence in Tyler is a real big positive and a real plus, but it doesn’t factor into whether Lamar plays,” Harbaugh said Monday. “If Lamar’s ready to go, he’s playing. That’s it for sure.”

Jackson has historically struggled against the Steelers. The Ravens are just 3-5 in Jackson’s eight career starts against the team, although they beat Pittsburgh twice late last season — first with the division on the line and then in the first round of the playoffs. In his career, Jackson has thrown 11 touchdown passes against the Steelers compared to 10 interceptions, while rushing for a score and losing three fumbles.