Lamar Jackson, the quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, addressed the impact of injuries on his performance during a recent press conference. He admitted that injuries have impacted him post-season, especially when they’re game-related. Although Jackson had his share of crises, he never lost faith in his body. As he declared, “I don’t feel old whatsoever today.”
One of the hardest hit this season has been Jackson, who dealt with a hamstring injury that kept him out of three games. On top of all this, he continually missed Wednesday practices, claiming an injured ankle. He came back as a full practice on Thursday. Jackson is looking forward to getting back in the action. He joked that Wednesday practices would be a thing of the past for him very soon.
Jackson’s performance in the locker room and on the field was thoroughly vetted. During last week’s 23-16 win against the Cleveland Browns, he didn’t record a single TD pass. Instead, he threw two picks, resulting in a passer rating of 47.6, his second lowest career rating. He still only completed 57.4% of his throws and averaged just 184.5 yards in victories over Minnesota and Cleveland. This exhibition was a reminder of the lack of consistency that has plagued his year.
With 23 sacks on the year so far, Jackson is eighth among all quarterbacks for most times sacked. He has been on the losing end of 23 sacks in 17 starts last year. This performance culminated in him being ranked 26th in the league. When asked about managing his body as he ages and faces increased pressure on the field, Jackson remarked, “I got to talk to the offensive line about that,” indicating a need for improved protection from his teammates.
Jackson will be 29 by his next birthday this coming January. Perhaps most impressively, he’s quickly adjusting to the physical demands of professional football. His unsparing self-critique belies not only a sharp understanding of his circumstances but a sanguine sense of his own talent.
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