OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Whereas some have expressed uncertainty about the way forward for Lamar Jackson outdoors the Baltimore Ravens’ facility, his teammates strongly supported their beginning quarterback after Monday’s last staff assembly of the season.
A day following the Ravens’ 24-17 wild-card loss on the Cincinnati Bengals, the gamers expressed optimism that Jackson could be again in Baltimore subsequent season and mentioned he did every part he might to return from a knee harm.
“You may’t let a man like him go,” Ravens defensive finish Calais Campbell mentioned. “There’s all the time some new, thrilling child that has potential to go on the market and be nice. However it is a enterprise of ‘for sures’ and ‘knowns,’ and you recognize who Lamar Jackson is. I feel it is in one of the best curiosity of the Ravens group to offer him a long-term contract and make him ‘the man.'”
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Jackson’s contract state of affairs is the most important storyline for the Ravens and maybe your entire NFL. Jackson and the Ravens can now resume negotiations on a long-term deal after suspending talks at the beginning of the common season.
Now, Baltimore should resolve whether or not to achieve a long-term take care of Jackson, put the franchise tag on him or look to commerce him. After Jackson completed out the fifth-year possibility of his rookie deal this season, the Ravens have lower than two months to work on a contract extension earlier than they’ve to make use of the franchise tag on him in early March to maintain him from turning into an unrestricted free agent.
“In my thoughts, I do know he’ll be right here,” Ravens left sort out Ronnie Stanley mentioned. “He is a competitor. He desires to win. That is his staff, and that is his offense. The cash is just not a very powerful factor with Lamar. He actually desires to win, opposite to well-liked perception.”
Jackson missed the final six video games with a sprained posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his left knee, and the Ravens struggled mightily on offense with out him. Baltimore failed to attain greater than 17 factors in a recreation throughout Jackson’s absence.
Some NFL analysts, together with former quarterback Michael Vick, steered that Jackson ought to placed on a brace and assist Baltimore within the postseason.
“The skin world, and all of the completely different narratives that individuals paint of their minds, generally it is humorous,” Campbell mentioned. “Lamar Jackson is a man who loves the sport of soccer, and I actually imagine he labored as onerous as he might to offer himself an opportunity to play.”
As Baltimore security Chuck Clark added, “He isn’t wholesome. You have seen him barely strolling right here. You may’t pressure anyone to play.”
Jackson’s sturdiness has turn into a serious subject. Relationship to Week 15 of 2021, he has been sidelined for 10 of Baltimore’s previous 22 video games.
On Thursday, Jackson tweeted the severity of his harm, writing that he “suffered a PCL Grade 2 Sprain on the borderline of a pressure 3.”
“Whenever you do that at a excessive stage, you recognize should you might be efficient or not,” Stanley mentioned. “I belief Lamar.”
Final week, Ravens broad receiver Sammy Watkins implied to The Washington Publish that Jackson could be again on the sphere if not for a contract standoff with the staff. On Monday, Watkins clarified his remarks, saying, “If a man is damage and might’t play, he should not be on the market. I used to be simply very egocentric in saying, ‘Shoot, I hope he performs, and I hope he hobbles on the market.’ It was nothing private. He mentioned one thing to me the opposite day. We laughed about it.”
Jackson didn’t journey with the Ravens for his or her playoff recreation in Cincinnati. He has been coping with an sickness, a supply mentioned.
Jackson didn’t stroll into the locker room on Monday through the hourlong media availability.
“I hope that he’ll be again. That is my man,” Ravens tight finish Mark Andrews mentioned. “I’ve nothing however love and respect for No. 8 as an individual, as a participant and as a pal.”
