Lamar Jackson Doubtful Teams Can Stop Him

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson doubts people within the league will figure him out this season.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported last week that people around the league have told him: "This might be the year that everybody figures out Lamar Jackson." But it seems like the 2019 MVP isn't so sure.

"We're going to see," he told reporters Tuesday. "But I doubt it, though. I strongly doubt it."

Jackson's passing numbers dropped slightly in 2020 after he led the league in touchdown passes (36) and QBR (83.0) in 2019. 

He threw for 2,757 yards and 26 touchdowns while completing 64.4% of his passes in 2020. He also made history by becoming the first quarterback to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in back-to-back seasons, finishing with 1,005 yards on the ground, per Bleacher Report.

Jackson missed the first 10 days of training camp this season after testing positive for COVID-19, but coaches and teammates have mentioned how sharp the quarterback has been since his return.

"Lamar is slinging the rock like he didn't have those 10 days off because of COVID," tight end Mark Andrews said last week, per ESPN. "He's more focused than he's ever been."

ESPN reports that Jackson's biggest challenge is building chemistry with his targets as only half of Baltimore's 12 wide receivers on the roster suited up for practice.

Marquise Brown (hamstring), Sammy Watkins (undisclosed), Rashod Bateman (groin), Miles Boykin (hamstring), James Proche (back) and Deon Cain (undisclosed) are all sidelined with injuries, the article states. Four of the six wide receivers who caught passes from Jackson were undrafted.

Jackson said the passing game will get back on track before the Sept. 13 season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders because he worked with many of the receivers in offseason.

"When they are back, we'll be hitting right where we started off at," Jackson said. "We ain't worried about it because they've been working hard and we've been working hard as well."

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