He knows he’s playing like anything but a two-time NFL MVP, but Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has strong words about how his injuries are impacting his production after a third-straight mediocre performance during Week 12’s 23-10 win over the New York Jets.
Jackson threw for less than 200 yards for a third week in a row. He looks far from 100 percent after returning from a hamstring problem, then dealing with knee and ankle injuries during subsequent practices.
If Jackson’s worried, he didn’t let on when speaking to reporters. Instead, the 28-year-old offered an emphatic response when asked if his injury situation is holding back the Ravens.
Jackson answered, “Not at all. I fell like we just need to execute a lot better. We get great field position, but we’re not putting points on the point. That has nothing to do with no injury. We just need to put points on the board,” per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
Jackson is putting a positive spin on things, but his struggles are starting to become a major story, even though he still has the backing of head coach John Harbaugh. The Ravens are also playing enough complementary football to have won five in a row and claimed top spot in the AFC North.
John Harbaugh Backed Lamar Jackson
Harbaugh leapt to Jackson’s defence after Baltimore’s QB1 endured another game to forget. The coach admitted he has “the utmost confidence in Lamar Jackson, and I always will. He’s my guy. He’s our guy. He’s our QB. “Lamar’s doing what he needs to do. He’s winning football games. … The pretty games will be there for Lamar Jackson. You can bet on that. But I’m proud of him right now. I’m really proud of the way he’s fighting to win football games,” per Ravens Vault co-host Sarah Ellison.
It makes sense for Harbaugh to keep things positive when talking about his most important player. Yet there’s no doubt the Ravens are struggling offensively while waiting for their signal-caller to return to form.
Jackson appears reticent to trust his legs and gash defenses as a runner, while his willingness to test coverage deep is also on the wane. The Ravens keep winning, but they are becoming increasingly reliant on other phases of the team to compensate for mediocre production from football’s most important position.
Ravens Needing Help from Every Area
Harbaugh is content to deflect criticism of Jackson, but the coach knows other areas are bailing the Ravens out each week. Against the Jets, it was punter Jordan Stout who proved an unlikely hero with some terrific kicks from deep in his own territory to keep the Ravens ahead in the battle for field position.
Stout and the punt team “kept us in the game, probably,” according to Harbaugh. He also called the kicking unit “difference makers,” per The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer.
Harbaugh knows the value of special teams, but football’s third phase wasn’t the only unit to make plays in key moments against the Jets. A rejuvenated defense heeded the warning about Jets passer Tyrod Taylor when second-year cornerback T.J. Tampa sealed the game with his first interception in the pros.
Defense and special teams are clicking when it matters, but the Ravens will still only go as far as Jackson can take them. He’ll need to prove injuries aren’t holding him back by playing better football.
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