Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will not play in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to CBS Sports. The 2019 NFL MVP is expected to be ready for the season opener on September 10, when the Ravens face the Las Vegas Raiders.
Jackson missed the first two preseason games after testing positive for COVID-19 for the second time in eight months. He returned to practice on August 7 and played in the third preseason game against the Washington Football Team on August 21, completing 10 of 18 passes for 86 yards and rushing for 29 yards on four carries.
The Ravens are hoping that Jackson can lead them to a deep playoff run after signing him to a record-breaking five-year, $260 million contract extension in April, making him the highest-paid player in the league, as reported by CNN. The deal includes $185 million guaranteed, according to ESPN.
Jackson has been one of the most dynamic and exciting players in the NFL since he was drafted by the Ravens in 2018. He has thrown for 9,066 yards and 75 touchdowns, with only 18 interceptions, in his career. He has also rushed for 4,437 yards and 24 touchdowns, breaking several records for a quarterback. He was unanimously voted as the NFL MVP in 2019, when he led the league in passing touchdowns (36) and set a single-season rushing record for a quarterback (1,206 yards).
The Ravens have also added some new weapons for Jackson this offseason, including wide receivers Sammy Watkins and Rashod Bateman, and pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney praised Jackson as the “fastest” quarterback in the league, saying he was glad he did not have to chase him anymore, as quoted by Sports Illustrated.
The Ravens have won three consecutive AFC North titles and have made the playoffs in each of Jackson’s three seasons as a starter. However, they have not reached the Super Bowl since 2012 and have lost in the divisional round twice in the past two years. They will look to change that this season with Jackson at the helm of their new offensive system under coordinator Todd Monken.
