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Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, sidelined for the past three games by a high-ankle sprain, is on track to start Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, coach Jesse Minter said Friday.

Jackson is expected to be listed as a full participant in all three practices this week, Minter said. Sunday’s game would be his first appearance since Oct. 4, when Tennessee Titans defensive end Jermaine Johnson landed on the outside of Jackson’s left ankle late in the first half, forcing him out of the game.

“He’s had a really good week of practice,” Minter said. “Excited about that opportunity for him to be back out. Again, a credit to him and the work that he put in dealing with an injury, put himself in position to be back, so that’s obviously exciting for our team.”

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The Ravens (4-3) have gone 1-2 without Jackson, including consecutive AFC North losses to the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. In backup quarterback Tyler Huntley’s three starts this season, the Ravens have averaged 328.3 yards and 17.7 points per game. In the three games Jackson has started and finished, they’ve averaged 398.7 yards and 30.7 points per game. He’s also graded out as one of the NFL’s most efficient passers.

Jackson said after practice Friday that he woke up Saturday, the day before the Ravens’ loss to Cincinnati, and had swelling in his ankle. He was ruled out Saturday afternoon, which CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson said came as a “shock” to the Ravens. Minter on Monday disagreed with her characterization.

Jackson said last week that it was “dumb” to play through various injuries last season, when he started 13 games but was limited physically after September. It’s unclear how close to full health Jackson is — high-ankle sprains, depending on their severity, can linger for well over a month — and he acknowledged Friday that he still feels pain in his ankle when he plants his left foot.

“It’s bearable,” he said. “I’ll go out there and give it a shot. So that’s what we’re doing this week.”

Minter said Jackson is “in a position to be able to play ‘Lamar Jackson football.’” Jackson, who said last week that playing without confidence in his mobility would be a “disservice” to the team, said he feels like “I’m no longer a statue, man.”

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Jackson’s return sets up a highly anticipated rematch with Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Jackson is 2-4 all time against Buffalo in head-to-head matchups with Allen, including the playoffs, his second-worst record against any opponent. (Jackson is 1-6 against the Kansas City Chiefs.)

Sunday’s game in Orchard Park, New York, is the first of two grueling tests for the Ravens in a five-day span. After playing the AFC East-leading Bills (5-1), who are coming off a bye, the Ravens will host the AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) on “Thursday Night Football.” Both opponents rank among the NFL’s four best in overall efficiency, according to FTN.

After a dispiriting 35-13 home loss to the Bengals, the Ravens enter Week 8 at No. 15 overall. Their playoff odds have dropped to 51.4%, according to ESPN.

“Sense of urgency is extremely high,” Jackson said. “Divisional game [against Cincinnati], it didn’t go the way we wanted it to last week. Guys have just been hitting the ground running, just trying to get back to where we should be [in] all phases.”

The Ravens’ defense and special teams have struggled throughout the season, and Minter said Wednesday that “everybody in the building” needed to improve. He reiterated Friday that Jackson’s return alone would not be a panacea.

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“With his success and obviously the type of player that he is, that would give any team, I think, a jolt like that,” he said. “We’re excited about that opportunity. There doesn’t need to be this crutch of Lamar, even though we know how great of a player he is.”

Note: Right guard Vega Ioane could “potentially” be available Sunday against Buffalo, Minter said. He returned to practice in a brace Thursday despite leaving Sunday’s loss with a knee injury and practiced again Friday. Safety Jaylinn Hawkins (knee), who missed the week of practice, will miss his second straight game, Minter said.