Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Expects less running with new OC
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Jackson said Thursday that he expects "less running and more throwing" under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, ESPN.com's Jamison Hensley reports.
It's not exactly a secret, after the Ravens parted ways with long-time, run-first OC Greg Roman and added WRs Odell Beckham and Zay Flowers. The new coordinator, Monken, spent four seasons with Tampa Bay (2016-18) and Cleveland (2019) in the same role and oversaw offenses that attempted 36.1, 37.8, 39.1 and 33.7 passes per game (Jackson's never averaged more than 31.8). Monken then opened up UGA's offense, culminating last year with QB Stetson Bennett compiling 4,128 passing yards, 27 pass TDs and 10 rushing TDs. The Ravens hope Monken can help guide Jackson from good to great as a passer, but it might mean fewer of the rush attempts that fantasy managers find so valuable. The 26-year-old QB completed 66.1 percent of his throws for 7.8 YPA and a league-high 9.0 percent TD rate back in 2019, so it isn't out of the question to make up for a dip in rushing stats with improvements in both passing volume and efficiency. Jackson is in Baltimore for the long haul after his contract saga ended at the end of April with a five-year, $260 million agreement.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Officially signs extension
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Jackson signed his five-year, $260 million contract extension with the Ravens on Thursday.
Baltimore and Jackson agreed to terms on the five-year extension, which reportedly includes $185 million in guarantees, just prior to the start of the 2023 NFL Draft, and both sides have now made the deal official. The team then selected rookie wideout Zay Flowers in the first round, adding another hopeful boost to a wide receiver room that also saw Odell Beckham signed to a one-year deal, and will get Rashod Bateman (foot) back from injury. By virtue of the revamped wide receiver corps, not to mention Mark Andrews' continued presence, Jackson looks set up to thrive with new offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Lands five-year extension
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Jackson has agreed to a five-year deal to remain with the Ravens.
Jackson's previously uncertain status for the coming season has now gained clarity, with the team confirming that the star QB is slated to ink a five-year agreement (worth $260 million, with $185 million in guarantees, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network) with the franchise that drafted him in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Earlier this offseason, Jackson -- who the Ravens placed their $32.4 million non-exclusive franchise tag on -- had requested a trade, but he's sticking with the team after all. Now past the sprained PCL that ended his 2022 campaign, the 26-year-old is poised to continue to helm a Baltimore offense that bolstered its pass-catching corps earlier this month by signing veteran wideout Odell Beckham.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Agrees to extension with Baltimore
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Jackson and the Ravens have agreed to terms on a contract extension, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Terms of the pending deal have yet to be reported, but after Jackson requested a trade earlier this offseason, his future with the Ravens appeared cloudy. Now, just hours before the 2023 NFL Draft, Baltimore's franchise signal-caller is slated to remain with the team, with a long-term extension now in place, per Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Still in team's plans, per DeCosta
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Ravens GM Eric DeCosta reiterated Thursday that he wants to sign Jackson to a long-term deal and believes the quarterback is "the right player for this team," ESPN's Jamison Hensley reports.
It's no secret the Ravens hope to keep Jackson; they just haven't been willing to give him the contract he wants. He's also been unable to find it from another team, perhaps in part because the non-exclusive franchise tag would require the loss of two first-round picks if the Ravens were to not match an offer sheet. The team has until July 17 to work out a long-term deal with Jackson, who has yet to sign the franchise tender and thus won't be at the start of the offseason program to learn new OC Todd Monken's playbook. DeCosta's comments Thursday came at the introductory press conference for Odell Beckham, who didn't receive any assurances Jackson will be with the team but expects it will play out that way. "The goal is to come here and have that possibility with [Jackson]," Beckham said Thursday.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Has requested trade
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Jackson announced Monday via his personal Twitter account that he requested a trade from the Ravens on March 2.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said, "We love [Jackson]," in his press conference Monday at the NFL's annual meeting, when asked for a response to Jackson's trade announcement. However, after a lengthy contract dispute, the star quarterback has made it known that he prefers to move on from Baltimore. The Ravens placed the $32.4 million non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson earlier this offseason, but he has yet to sign the tender. Other teams can negotiate a contract with Jackson due to the non-exclusive tag, which Baltimore could match or alternatively gain two first-round draft picks as compensation, but Jackson's now-public announcement of a trade request could motivate teams around the league to more heavily pursue direct dialogue with the Ravens instead. Additionally, Harbaugh said Monday that Jackson has now fully healed from the sprained PCL in his left knee that caused him to miss Baltimore's final six contests of the 2022 campaign, per Jonas Shaffer of TheBaltimoreBanner.com.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Gets franchise tag
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The Ravens assigned their franchise tag to Jackson (knee) on Tuesday.
In a statement released by the team, general manager Eric DeCosta noted that the Ravens plan to continue to negotiate with Jackson in hopes of reaching a long-term deal with the quarterback this offseason. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the $32.4 million franchise tag is non-exclusive, which means that the signal-caller can negotiate with other teams. The Ravens, however, retain the right to match any offer sheet Jackson signs, or alternatively accept two first-round draft picks as compensation.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Team optimistic about new deal
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Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said Wednesday that he remains optimistic the team will reach a long-term extension with Jackson (knee), Clifton Brown of the team's official site reports.
DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh made statements in support of retaining Jackson in press conferences on Wednesday, and both offered similar comments in January about the quarterback after the Ravens were eliminated from the playoffs. At this stage of the offseason, the two sides seem far apart in contract talks, but the Ravens have made it clear they'll use the franchise tag on Jackson if it comes to that.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Has support of Harbaugh, DeCosta
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Ravens coach John Harbaugh and GM Eric DeCosta both said Thursday that they expect Jackson (knee) to remain with the team, Hayes Gardner of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Rumors have been swirling about Jackson's potential departure from Baltimore, with the 26-year-old scheduled for unrestricted free agency this offseason after a PCL sprain kept him out for the final month of the 2022 regular season and a playoff loss in Cincinnati. Harbaugh said he "200 percent" wants Jackson in Baltimore for years to come, while DeCosta was a bit measured but still said the focus remains on signing Jackson to an extension (rather than trading him). If Jackson does return to Baltimore in 2023, it'll be his first time in an NFL offense that isn't either directed or heavily influenced by Greg Roman, who announced Thursday that he's parting ways with the Ravens after four years as their offensive coordinator. Neither Harbaugh nor DeCosta said anything about a timeline for Jackson's recovery from the knee injury or if surgery might be needed.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Ruled out for wild-card round
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Jackson (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Cincinnati, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Jackson still hasn't practiced since suffering a PCL sprain Week 13 and revealed Wednesday that his knee "remains unstable" nearly a month and a half after the injury. He may not be available in the playoffs even if the Ravens upset the Bengals this Sunday -- a tall task with Jackson ruled out and Tyler Huntley (shoulder) considered a game-time decision even after upgrading to full practice participation Friday.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Another DNP on Thursday
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Jackson (knee) didn't practice Thursday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
When Jackson initially suffered a sprained PCL in his left knee on Dec. 4, he was given a recovery timeline of 1-to-3 weeks, but he has yet to step on the practice field since then. Thursday's DNP marks his 17th in a row, which places considerable doubt into his ability to play in Sunday's wild-card game at Cincinnati. Meanwhile, backup quarterback Tyler Huntley (shoulder) resumed throwing Thursday, putting him on a potential path to play this weekend. If Jackson and Huntley aren't able to suit up Sunday, Anthony Brown and practice-squad member Brett Hundley are the options to be under center for the Ravens.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Not at practice
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Jackson (knee) isn't practicing Wednesday, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.
Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported earlier Wednesday that Jackson is facing an uphill battle to play in Sunday's wild-card game against the Bengals, and the quarterback's continued absence from practice would seem to support as much. Since suffering a PCL sprain Dec. 4, Jackson doesn't appear to be progressing as the team had hoped, and he now has only two more chances to practice before the Ravens' playoff opener. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley sat out Week 18 with a shoulder injury and was limited to non-throwing work during the open portion of Wednesday's practice, leaving Anthony Brown and practice squad member Brett Hundley as the Ravens' healthy quarterbacks for the moment.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Optimism for playoff return
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Jackson (knee), who has already been ruled out for Week 18 against the Bengals, could play in the team's playoff matchup the following week, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Jackson has not practiced in a month and didn't seem to be all that close for a pivotal Week 18 return against the Bengals, but the superstar quarterback may attempt to gut it out with the Ravens' 2022-23 season on the line next week. Coach John Harbaugh was "hopeful" Jackson could make his return next week, but as Schefter noted, there's still swelling in the quarterback's knee, which complicates a firm timeline for return.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Ruled out for Week 18
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Jackson (knee) won't play Sunday against the Bengals.
Per Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh noted that he's "hopeful" about the quarterback's chances of being ready to go for the start of the playoffs. At least for one more contest, however, Jackson will remain sidelined, which sets the stage for Tyler Huntley (shoulder/wrist) to make a fifth straight start, health permitting. Though Harbaugh is optimistic Huntley will be ready to play Sunday, undrafted rookie Anthony Brown took some reps with the first-team offense this week and is prepared to start, if needed.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Still not practicing
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Jackson (knee) wasn't spotted at practice Friday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
While Jackson is trending toward missing Sunday's game against the Bengals, Tyler Huntley (shoulder/wrist) has been limited at practice this week and could also be at risk of sitting out. If neither of the two are available this weekend, Anthony Brown would be in line to draw the start at quarterback in the regular-season finale.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Still absent from practice
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Jackson (knee) isn't practicing Thursday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
The 25-year-old has now missed 14 consecutive Ravens practices, and unless he reverses the trend Friday, he's all but certain to sit out his fifth consecutive game this Sunday in Cincinnati. Though Jackson's recovery from a PCL sprain of his left knee has taken longer than anticipated, the Ravens could still have their top signal-caller available for the wild-card round of the postseason if he's able to take more meaningful steps forward with his practice activity next week. Until Jackson is ready to go, however, the Ravens will turn to Tyler Huntley (shoulder/wrist) to direct the offense.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: No return to practice
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Jackson (knee) isn't practicing Wednesday, Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Jackson hasn't played or practiced since Week 13 and is in danger of missing a fifth consecutive game. The Ravens may act cautious with Jackson even if he makes it back to practice by the end of the week, as they can't drop any lower than the No. 6 seed in the AFC and might not move up at all even with an upset win on the road this Sunday in Cincinnati.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Ruled out for Week 17
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Jackson (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday night's game against the Steelers.
With Jackson -- who last saw game action Week 13 -- unable to practice this week, he'll sit this one out, which sets the stage for Tyler Huntley to draw another start at QB for the Ravens on Sunday. Jackson's next chance to return to action will arrive in the team's regular-season finale Week 18 versus the Bengals.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Not yet practicing
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Jackson (knee) remained a non-participant in Thursday's practice, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
Though Jackson was expected to resume football-related activities this week after missing the Ravens' previous three games with a PCL sprain in his left knee, it hasn't translated to any recorded or estimated practice reps. The Ravens will wait and see what, if anything, Jackson can do during Friday's practice session, but the 2019 NFL MVP looks to be trending toward a fourth straight absence this Sunday against the Steelers. Tyler Huntley took reps with the first-team offense once again Thursday and is continuing to stay ready for another start.
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Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Could return Week 17
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Jackson (knee), who will miss his third straight game Saturday against the Falcons, is expected to get back on the field early next week and resume taking part in "football-related movements," with the Ravens then set to determine whether he's fit to start practicing, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Jackson hasn't practiced in any fashion since suffering a PCL sprain of his left knee in Baltimore's Week 13 win over Denver, putting his availability up in the air until he's able to start taking reps again. Though the Ravens believe that Jackson will be able to play Week 17 against the Steelers if he's able to practice in some capacity, the dual-threat quarterback will first need to prove that his knee doesn't hinder him when he stops, starts and cuts before he's reintegrated into drills. At this stage, Rapoport relays that Jackson has responded well to running in a straight line and on the treadmill, but getting back on the field represents a hurdle he'll still have to overcome. Tyler Huntley (shoulder) is on track to make a third straight start this weekend and will likely continue to direct the Baltimore offense if Jackson misses additional time.
