Ravens QB Lamar Jackson can join elite company after offseason attrition
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is coming off his second NFL MVP season in the past five years and revealed he has been putting in hard work this offseason with the chance to join an elite company.
When Jackson showed up for the first day of Baltimore’s voluntary offseason workout program, he appeared to have a leaner physique.
The 27-year-old confirmed those beliefs during an appearance on Complex Sports’ “I Got Time Today” on Instagram.
Jackson read a series of social media posts about him, including one that said, “Lamar Jackson is definitely 2019 MVP slim now. … It may get spooky.”
He answered: “Most definitely. I was 230 two years ago. I was 215 last season, but now I’m like 205.”
Jackson seems to have the intention of replicating his first MVP season when he threw for 3,127 yards and 36 touchdowns while also rushing for a career-high 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019.
If Jackson can do just that in 2024, he’ll join an elite group of players who have won back-to-back MVPs.
Only five players have won consecutive MVPs: QB Aaron Rodgers, QB Peyton Manning, QB Brett Favre, QB Joe Montana and RB Jim Brown. All are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame or will be in short time.
Jackson isn’t the only one who thinks he can do it, either. Strength and conditioning coordinator Scott Elliott revealed his expectations for Jackson last month.
“Lamar is in great shape,” Elliott said, via the team’s official website. “I would say this: I’ve never been more excited in April for Lamar Jackson.”
The Ravens added a bruising running back in Derrick Henry this offseason, which may have influenced Jackson to drop some weight.
Only time will tell if Jackson has similar production this season as he did in 2019, but he has certainly set himself up to do so.
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