He knows there’s a problem, but Baltimore Ravens franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson can still take being sacked 23 times already this season with good humor. At least for now, but the two-time NFL MVP revealed a conversation is coming between himself and his offensive line. Jackson spoke with reporters on Thursday, November 20, one day after missing practice again with what turned out to be an ankle injury. The Ravens were being cautious with their star asset, but Jackson was upbeat after participating in the latest session, even when the issue of crumbling protection was mentioned. As ESPN’s Jamison Hensley noted, Jackson said, “I’m going to talk to my offensive line about that.” Although Hensley was quick to point out Jackson uttered these words “with a smile,” the growing numbers of hits he’s taking is a problem the Ravens can’t ignore. Especially in the context of the team still needing to carefully manage his health. Lamar Jackson Has a Problem Getting hit and staying under siege in the pocket is an uncomfortable, but familiar reality for Jackson this season. He was sacked five times against the Cleveland Browns in Week 11, with four of those QB takedowns by star defensive end Myles Garrett. Those aren’t the numbers head coach John Harbaugh wants to see when Jackson is struggling to overcome nagging injuries. Making it all the way back from hamstring, knee and ankle problems is proving a challenge, particularly when it comes to dealing with the midweek practice schedule. Jackson’s health is becoming a weekly hot topic. Fortunately, he admitted he’s “good” ahead of facing the New York Jets in Week 12, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, yet the latter noted Jackson also “said given he’s been banged up, this could be his new normal this season with taking a day off from practice but noted ‘We’ll have to see what coach feels about it.’” Keeping Jackson out of the fray during the week might be necessary fitness management by the Ravens, but there could be drawbacks. Those risks would include Jackson not being in peak playing condition on gamedays, or over-exerting himself after a light pre-game workload. Those theories will be put to the test when the Jets visit M&T Bank Stadium on November 23. They still boast a capable defensive front, but Jackson will be able to count on an All-Pro presence looking after his blindside. Ravens Get Good News Along Struggling Offensive Line Getting Jackson fully healthy and keeping him upright are the priorities for the Ravens, but the latter won’t happen without Ronnie Stanley at 100 percent. The 31-year-old was a full participant on Thursday, after missing practice a day earlier due to illness, according to the Ravens’ latest injury report. Stanley has been far from his best this season, but he can still be one of the more accomplished left tackles in the NFL. His ability to handle Jets edge-rushers Jermaine Johnson II and Will McDonald IV will be key to how Jackson performs. Another underrated boost to Jackson’s chances to thrive is the inclusion of running back Justice Hill as a full participant after a toe injury. Hill still does most of his work in third-down situations, where the useful veteran remains an excellent blocker.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/baltimore-ravens/lamar-jackson-sacks-ronnie-stanley-jets/
Tag: Lamar Jackson
Ravens’ Lamar Jackson Set for NFL Feat Only Done by Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes
The Baltimore Ravens appear to be their old selves again, currently riding a two-game win streak. Lamar Jackson made a spectacular return, tossing four touchdowns, and now the star quarterback is on the verge of achieving an NFL feat accomplished only by Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.
Jackson has been one of the most accurate passers in the league throughout his young career. He currently holds the best all-time passer rating with a total of 103.5, putting him ahead of Rodgers, who ranks second with a career passer rating of 102.6. Considering Rodgers has played more than twice as many seasons as Jackson, this is a remarkable accomplishment. Mahomes holds the third spot with a passer rating of 101.8.
Passer rating is a crucial metric that highlights a quarterback’s accuracy and their ability to throw touchdowns without costly turnovers. What sets Rodgers and Mahomes apart is that both have maintained a passer rating over 100.0 in their first 100 career starts—a significant NFL milestone.
Jackson is closing in on this feat. With his 100th start coming up on Sunday, he has the opportunity to join Rodgers and Mahomes if he can keep his passer rating above 100.0. According to NFL Media, “Jackson can become the third quarterback all-time with a passer rating of 100-or-higher in his first 100 career starts, joining Aaron Rodgers (107.3 passer rating) and Patrick Mahomes (103.0).”
Currently, Jackson stands at 99 starts with an impressive 103.5 passer rating. If he maintains this level of performance against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, he will add another prestigious NFL record to his growing list.
Jackson has worked hard to prove that he is far more than just a “running back,” a label often attached to him early in his career. His dual-threat ability to throw downfield effectively while also being a dynamic runner has already earned him two MVP awards.
Although the Ravens hold a 3-5 record, their recent surge in confidence could help them shake off their early-season struggles and make a strong push moving forward. Fans will be watching closely as Lamar Jackson continues to redefine what it means to be an elite quarterback in the NFL.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/ravens-lamar-jackson-nfl-feat-aaron-rodgers-patrick-mahomes-11013385
Ravens’ Harbaugh calls the mix-up over Jackson’s injury status an ‘honest’ mistake
BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh described his team’s injury list mix-up as an “honest mistake” after the organization initially listed quarterback Lamar Jackson as a full participant in practice on Friday, then retroactively changed his designation to limited the following day.
“Nobody’s trying to hide anything,” Harbaugh said following Baltimore’s 30-16 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. “There’s no advantage to be gained with that.”
On Friday, the Ravens reported Jackson as a full participant in practice and listed him as questionable for Sunday’s game. However, on Saturday, Baltimore ruled Jackson out for the game and clarified that he had actually been limited on Friday.
The team explained that although Jackson practiced “fully,” he did not take starter reps and therefore should have been listed as limited. According to NFL policy, full participation means completing 100% of a player’s normal repetitions.
“I’m not involved in those rules. I don’t know those particular rules,” Harbaugh said. “I think in their defense, he practiced a full practice. I think they felt like because he did the same number of reps it was a full practice, but when you dig in and you read the rule, at the end of the day it wasn’t right. As soon as we found out, we changed it.”
When asked who he was referring to as “they,” Harbaugh replied, “That’s in the training room, and the PR and the other side.”
Harbaugh also appeared uncertain about the available status designations on the injury report.
“I do think if we’d had the old status, maybe they would have said doubtful. Maybe? I don’t know,” he said. “But questionable or out, we weren’t going to say out because he wasn’t out until Saturday, when that conversation was had on the medical side.”
It is worth noting that “doubtful” remains a designation that can be used on NFL injury reports.
With Jackson sidelined, backup quarterback Tyler Huntley started in his place and led the Ravens to their highest-scoring game since Week 3 — the last time the team had Jackson available for a full game.
“We always prepare for Lamar,” Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus said. “Then when we found out he wasn’t playing, it was get ready for the next guy.”