OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh capped his group’s first apply of coaching camp Sunday with an impassioned protection of quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Requested in regards to the criticism directed on the NFL’s reigning Most Precious Participant for not reaching the Tremendous Bowl, Harbaugh delivered a stirring two-minute, 43-second response.
“There’s plenty of nice issues stated about Lamar, however there’s plenty of stuff that is stated that you simply simply obtained to scratch your head about and form of marvel, ‘What’s that individual even considering?'” Harbaugh stated Sunday. “However we take it personally.”
In February, on the age of 27, Jackson grew to become the youngest two-time NFL MVP for the reason that AFL merger. Since 2018, he has the second-best regular-season document within the league at 58-19 (.753), main Baltimore to the NFL’s greatest data in 2019 (14-2) and 2023 (13-4).
However Jackson has struggled within the postseason, dropping 4 of his six playoff video games. In final season’s 17-10 loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the AFC Championship Recreation, Jackson accomplished 54% of his passes (20-of-37) and dedicated two turnovers.
“All his life, Lamar Jackson has been a man who’s been answering those self same questions,” Harbaugh stated. “I am speaking about since he was a child. Junior excessive, highschool, school, the draft. The success he is had within the [NFL], once more, it nonetheless comes up.
“OK, now he is nonetheless rising. He is obtained a development mindset. He’ll get higher and higher, little question. However what does he must do to show himself to some individuals? Proper?”
Since being chosen with the final choose within the first spherical of the 2018 NFL draft, Jackson has turn into the very best dual-threat quarterback in NFL historical past. He has run for extra yards than any quarterback in his first six seasons (5,258) and has thrown 125 landing passes in 77 begins.
However Harbaugh has even larger expectations for Jackson. Final week, Harbaugh instructed Jackson that his dream for him is to turn into the very best quarterback ever.
On Sunday, Harbaugh reiterated that to reporters.
“The imaginative and prescient that now we have collectively is that Lamar Jackson goes to turn into and be identified and be acknowledged as the best quarterback ever to play within the historical past of the Nationwide Soccer League,” Harbaugh stated. “It may occur by Lamar, his work ethic and his sensible expertise, by all of us pouring into that effort collectively as a group and by the grace of God and God’s goodwill.”
Jackson was not current to listen to Harbaugh’s glowing phrases about him. Earlier than Sunday’s apply, he was despatched dwelling by the group’s docs with an sickness.
“He simply began getting sick [Saturday] noon within the conferences [and] it obtained form of not good,” Harbaugh stated. “So, he tried to get in right this moment and get relaxation after which get fluids and issues. It simply wasn’t good.”
With Jackson not taking part, the Ravens turned to 38-year-old journeyman Josh Johnson to run the first-team offense.
On Saturday, Ravens tight finish Mark Andrews known as Jackson “probably the most particular participant on the earth.”
Requested about how criticism impacts Jackson, Andrews stated, “He is grown up and needed to take care of issues like this his entire life. And the factor that stands out about him is he is obtained an unimaginable religion and perception in God and in himself and his teammates. And when you’ve got perception in one thing else, it is easy to get by issues; it is easy to assist different individuals carry that weight. He does a fantastic job of simply being himself and never letting the skin noise have an effect on him.”
