OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The biggest change in Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson since winning his second NFL MVP award is that there is less of him.
Jackson indicated that he has lost weight this offseason to “be more agile.”
Earlier this month, Jackson said he weighed 205 pounds, 25 pounds lighter than his 2022 weight and 10 pounds lighter than last season. On Wednesday, Jackson declined to specify his exact weight.
“I really don’t know how many pounds I lost,” Jackson said after Baltimore’s second OTA practice. “I’m like two-something (one hundred pounds) right now. But I’ll just say it was big enough to be able to move a little more, that’s all.”
Lamar Jackson says he lost weight in the offseason because “it was big enough to be able to move a little more, that’s all.” Jamison Hensley/Keynote USA
Jackson, 27, is the NFL’s most prolific rushing quarterback, gaining 5,258 yards in his first six seasons in the league, 1,399 rushing yards more than any other quarterback. He led the NFL with an average of 5.5 yards per carry last season, but that was his lowest mark of any full season. Jackson’s four runs of 20-plus yards last season were also the fewest of his career.
When asked the reason for the weight loss, Jackson responded, “Just so I can be more agile and be able to move more.”
In terms of speed, Jackson recorded nine runs in his first three seasons in which he reached a top speed of 20 mph or more. In his last three seasons, he only managed one race in which he reached a top speed of 20 mph, and that didn’t happen last season.
Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers noticed the difference in Jackson immediately when he first saw him this offseason, calling him “skinny.” Coach John Harbaugh said he’s not worried about Jackson’s weight loss.
“I think that’s Lamar, he’s a professional,” Harbaugh said. “He knows what he’s doing. He knows where he wants to be with it. My concern is that he’s in the best shape of his life and he’s working toward it.”
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After Jackson had a career-low 38 sacks in 2021, he bulked up to 230 pounds the following season. He dropped to 215 pounds last season before losing more weight this offseason.
Jackson said he couldn’t remember the last time he felt so elusive.
“It’s been so long,” Jackson said. “We had COVID happen to us; it slowed us down a little bit, but now I feel great. I feel great.”
Jackson doesn’t believe weight loss will affect how he takes punches.
“We sacrificed our bodies every single game (and) practice,” he said. “I don’t think the weight really matters.”
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