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Lamar Jackson was absent from a voluntary practice for the Baltimore Ravens, and that generally raises eyebrows.
New coach Jesse Minter didn’t seem worried.
“Lamar has been one of our leaders in the offseason program, and a few things happened yesterday and today, and I expect him to be back soon,” said Minter, who replaced John Harbaugh after last season. “We’ve had some really good conversations. I know when he comes back, I’ll probably leave the ones between me and Lamar.”
Jackson’s participation in these types of OTAs has been sporadic over the years. It’s hard to say how much this matters, but it’s certainly an issue highlighted by critics from time to time. His contract, with two years remaining, has also been a big topic lately after he and the Ravens failed to agree on an extension before free agency began. Baltimore instead restructured Jackson’s deal to create cap space.
Jackson was at Minter’s first minicamp with the Ravens last month.
That camp wasn’t open to reporters, but Tuesday’s OTA was, and it offered a chance to see how the new coach handled practice on a hot day in Owings Mills. At the end, the team participated in a small game in which the offensive and defensive players competed against each other by throwing medicine balls.
Minter said it’s part of preparing the team to play well in the biggest moments, something the Ravens have struggled with in recent years.
“We end practice every day (with) a ‘At our best when we need our best’ period, and so it might be different. Today we decided to have a little friendly competition,” Minter said. “Right now we can’t really compete in football, so I thought it would be something different, something fun. I’m trying to make the guys not know what’s going to happen and answer the bell when their number is called, and it’s as simple as that. That’s really all we’re trying to do with it and make it fun, have the guys help each other out.”
Earlier, there was a scary moment when running back Derrick Henry bumped knees with another player and was on the ground for a moment. He was able to return to practice shortly after.
“The floor was like a bed for a little while,” he said. “And I saw you all (the journalists) looking sexy and bored, so I was like, ‘I have to give them something to tweet and write about.'”
Associated Press reporting
