Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson: 'We're right where we need to be right now'

USA Today

5 days ago

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – For somebody who won't participate in the Baltimore Ravens' preseason opener on Aug. 7 against the Indianapolis Colts, Tuesday's joint practice against the team that used to call Baltimore home can be invaluable to Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson – even if there is a mid-session melee.
A joint practice means Jackson can mimic the feeling of a preseason game. It also makes for funny reunions, like Jackson's with Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. For six seasons, while Anarumo coordinated the Cincinnati Bengals' defense, Jackson routinely torched Anarumo's unit. The two-time MVP owns a 10-1 career record against the Bengals with 22 touchdowns and four interceptions in those games, all but one of which came during Anarumo's Bengals tenure.
Anarumo was fired following last season and landed two hours West down I-74 as the Colts' defensive coordinator, presenting a chance for Anarumo to approach Jackson on the field in between practice periods.
'He was telling me that was glad he doesn't have to face me twice a year anymore,' Jackson said. 'But I told him it's always going to be competitive.
'We get great work out of these types of practices.'
For Jackson and the Ravens' offense, a banged-up Colts secondary wasn't the most challenging practice opponent. Besides, Baltimore's starting secondary, as Jackson noted, features multiple first-round talents whose play often explains their draft position.
But going against a different-colored jersey helped get the competitive juices flowing, Jackson said.
'We don't see these guys every day,' he said. 'We get to see different looks from different guys, different types of coverages, see how different guys guard different people, different blitzes and stuff like that. So, definitely, we get a lot out of these types of joint practices.'
Chemistry with receiver DeAndre Hopkins is building, Jackson said; the two had a miscommunication on a hand signal that sent Hopkins on the wrong route, and Jackson was upset with himself after the rep.
That wasn't the only time Jackson reacted strongly to his own wrongdoings. In the final two-minute drill session of practice, Colts' seventh-round rookie safety Hunter Wohler intercepted Jackson (Wohler later also picked off backup Cooper Rush to end practice).
Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts get into joint practice brawl
'Watching how my guys are out there on the field and how we're moving in the ball during certain periods, I felt like we did pretty good, besides the little 'BS' interceptions,' Jackson said. 'Too many, but it happens.'
Baltimore, with offensive coordinator Todd Monken calling plays for the third season, has struggled in camp with the procedural penalties as the coaching staff continues to give Jackson additional pre-snap authority at the line of scrimmage.
Jackson doesn't seem to be too concerned, and No. 8 made plays all day in every setting – 7-on-7, red-zone, 11-on-11 – against the Colts. His connection with tight end Mark Andrews appears stronger than ever. Fellow tight end Isiah Likely out for several weeks with a foot injury, opening the door for Charlie Kolar to have a big day with some wide-open chunk catches.
'We're right where we need to be right now,' Jackson said.
In 2024, Jackson – who slimmed down during the offseason to become more elusive – led the NFL's top-ranked offense (424.9 total yards per game) that finished third in scoring. Jackson's rushing capabilities, along with the offseason acquisition of running back Derrick Henry, produced a balanced attack that became the first in league history to post at least 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in a single season. Baltimore was the first team in league history with more than 40 passing touchdowns and 20 rushing touchdowns.
Jackson himself set career highs in passing yards (4,172), passing TDs (41) and passer rating (119.6), while throwing just 4 INTs. He also had 915 rushing yards – averaging 6.6 yards per carry with four scores on the ground – to become the first quarterback in NFL history with at least 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards in a season. Jackson's seven games with a passer rating of at least 135.0 also set a single-season NFL record, and his 119.6 rating for the season ranks fourth all time. He was the first player to ever record more than 40 passing touchdowns and less than five interceptions.
Monken, never shy with a microphone around, said what everybody who watches football in the Mid-Atlantic region has been thinking since Andrews dropped the football in the end zone in Orchard Park, New York, six months ago.
All of the work – even an honest day's worth in August against another team – will come down to one, likely cold, day in January.
'I think every day is important,' Monken told reporters. 'To say that one extra joint practice is going to lend itself ... in terms of having a great regular season – which is what we're trying to do – I mean, then we've got to finish it off. You've got to have a great regular season to put yourself in position for the backend.'