Lamar Jackson’s ankle, Smythe out for year: AFC East and North roundup

No AFC East or North team took the field yesterday, but it was anything but quiet, especially in Baltimore and Cleveland, as injuries and early-season verdicts reshaped the outlook atop both divisions.

Ravens hit hard: Jackson iffy, Smythe done for the year

The Baltimore Ravens (3-1) woke up to major concern around their franchise quarterback. Lamar Jackson is battling an ankle sprain and has only an outside chance to play in Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons, according to NFL Media. The offense is already absorbing a significant blow in the trenches: tight end Durham Smythe tore his Achilles in Week 4 and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season, removing a key blocking presence from the unit.

In a tightly contested AFC North, where Baltimore shares first place with Cleveland at 3-1, any extended absence for Jackson could quickly shift the balance of power.

Browns at 3-1: reinforcing depth and riding a rookie spark

The Cleveland Browns (3-1) are responding to their surprise start by reinforcing depth on both sides of the ball. The team has opened quarterback Dillon Gabriel’s 21-day practice window and designated defensive tackle Kalia Davis for return while reshaping its practice squad. Around the league, a ranking of division leaders flags the Browns as one of the more vulnerable front-runners despite their early success.

Offensively, rookie receiver Denzel Boston is emerging as part of a group of 18 non-first-round rookies who have already taken on important roles just four weeks into the season.

Bills’ 3-1 start questioned; Patriots and Jets under the microscope

In the AFC East, the Buffalo Bills (3-1) sit on top, yet an in-depth look undercuts the shine. Their strong record is tied to a soft early schedule, ongoing turnover issues and a pass defense that has shown real cracks, putting Buffalo alongside Cleveland on the list of division leaders deemed most likely to be reeled in.

The New England Patriots (2-2), last season’s AFC champions, have delivered an uneven first month according to a set of conference-wide team grades. Off the field, quarterback Drake Maye drew attention in Boston when he told a local radio show he isn’t fully convinced the 1969 moon landing happened exactly as officially described, citing his interest in conspiracy theories.

The New York Jets (1-3) may lag in the standings, but they are winning on the transaction sheet: nearly a year after the blockbuster for Sauce Gardner, a fresh analysis concludes the trade has clearly swung in New York’s favor over the Colts. In Pittsburgh, the Steelers (2-2) are back in the conversation thanks to family drama, as former star Joey Porter Sr. publicly voiced frustration with the franchise while his son shined in his Dallas Cowboys debut.

All of it is unfolding in a league where officials have already logged 963 accepted penalties through four weeks, the fastest pace since 1978 and a backdrop of rising tension that touches every corner of the AFC East and North.