Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has more energy, less fatigue and shakes off brief practice exit

Midway through Monday’s practice, Lamar Jackson sat about 20 yards behind the wall of teammates watching 11-on-11 drills in the red zone. A trainer stood over the Baltimore Ravens quarterback while he stretched his ankles. Baltimore’s starting quarterback and the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player went inside, missing about 10 minutes of the light practice, likely getting his ankles taped.

He returned to the field, hopping right into seven-on-seven drills without hesitation. Jackson finished practice taking his normal reps without any noticeable setbacks. How does he feel after the brief, mid-practice exit? “I’m good. I’m wonderful. I’m great. I’m good,” he said confidently. The practice was a much calmer environment than the last few weeks have been, with Monday being the first day without fans roaring after every big play. While the defense seemed to still pounce at something closer to resembling game speed early, Jackson still made a few impressive plays. His best throw was a bomb down the right sideline to wide receiver Rashod Bateman for a touchdown.

Two plays later, he went to veteran wideout Anthony Miller, a recent addition who continues to impress, for a 20-yard pickup against the right sideline. After that, Jackson overthrew Nelson Agholor in double coverage on a post route. His one interception of the day was a lob toward the back left corner of the end zone intended for Keith Kirkwood. Third-year cornerback Damarion Williams undercut the route and made a leaping grab for a pick. Jackson returned to the field against what was by then a more lax defense.

He threaded an impressive ball through a seam to a streaking tight end Charlie Kolar up the left hash mark. He connected again with Bateman up the left sideline, beating coverage by rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins. Jackson hasn’t played in either of the Ravens’ first two preseason games and likely won’t play at 1 p.m. Saturday for the preseason finale in Green Bay. That’s in line with coach John Harbaugh’s precautionary decision to keep him out in recent years. “We want to put our best foot forward right out of the gates as much as we can,” Harbaugh said. Jackson will, however, finally see a defense that isn’t wearing purple during a joint practice with the Packers on Thursday

– “I’m tired going against my guys,” he said. “I’m very competitive, so sometimes I do want to go play,” Jackson continued. “But at the same time, I know why our coaches are keeping us off the field; and I’d rather just play [the] regular season than going out there and things happen.” Jackson dropped a bit of weight from last year to this year, entering camp at 200 pounds. That’s reportedly 15 pounds slimmer than last year and 30 below his 2022 weight. The visibly slimmer Jackson has previously talked about becoming faster and more elusive. Some of that has been noticeable in camp thus far. He said it’s most noticeable returning to the huddle after a big play.

“I’ve got a lot more energy,” Jackson said. “I’m not fatigued as much. If I’m running 30 yards down the field, I can come back and just be like me, like a robot, even though I’m not a robot. So yes, I’m feeling good. I just feel better, a lot better.” It’s the kind of change Jackson envisions making him even more dynamic. Last season, Jackson had a career-high 307 completions at his best percentage (67.2) for his most yards (3,678). He also had the third-most carries (148) of his career for the third-most yards (821). More energy and less fatigue are a dangerous boost to his already strong dual-threat capabilities. “Lamar Jackson does things that just don’t seem possible with the football in his hands,” Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning said at Fanatics Fest over the weekend. Soon-to-be Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady – who has previously criticized the league’s talent level – doubled down that Jackson “always impresses me as a player.”

Jackson was asked his reaction to hearing such praise from two of the game’s best at his position. “That’s crazy,” he said, a bit bug-eyed. “That’s dope, especially coming from those guys. Those [are] guys who [are] on top of the Mount Rushmore right now, for me at least. That’s great – that’s great to hear that from the GOATs.” Jackson also hit on how excited he is about the start of the regular season with the playmakers around him. He joked about always getting questions on running back Derrick Henry: “Just to see this guy do what he’s been doing since forever, I’m just ready,” he said. Jackson lauded the growing chemistry with many of his returning stars in the passing game heading into Year 2 leading Todd Monken’s offense.

“I feel like this year,” Jackson said, “it’ll be different this go-around.” While assuring eager reporters that he’s fully healthy, digesting acclaim from legends and handing out compliments to teammates, one reporter noticed a significant tear in his undershirt. Jackson said it happened during a practice last week. He hugged the ball and darted through a hole in the offensive line when a defender tried to wrangle him down by his T-shirt. “I just kept running,” Jackson said. “But I’m going to say a bear tried to fight me, and I won. How about that?” Only 17 more days until he’ll face 11 bears dressed as Kansas City Chiefs defenders – a tall Week 1 test.