OWINGS MILLS, Md. — While some expressed uncertainty about the future of lamar Jackson outside Baltimore Crows‘ base, his teammates strongly supported their starting midfielder after Monday’s final team meeting of the season.
A Day After Raven’ 24-17 lose wild card in Cincinnati BengalsThe players expressed optimism that Jackson will return to Baltimore next season and said he’s done everything he can to return from a knee injury.
“You can’t let someone like him go,” Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell speak. “There’s always some new, exciting kid with the potential to go out there and be awesome. But this is the business of ‘sures’ and ‘knowns’, and you know Lamar. Who is Jackson. I think it’s in the Ravens’ best interest to give him a long-term contract and make him ‘the guy’.”
Jackson’s contract situation is the biggest storyline for Raven and probably the NFL as a whole. Jackson and the Ravens can now resume talks on a long-term deal after pausing negotiations at the start of the regular season.
Now, Baltimore will have to decide whether to strike a long-term deal with Jackson, tag him in a franchise, or find a way to trade with him. After Jackson ended the fifth year option on his rookie contract this season, Raven had less than two months to work out a contract extension before they had to use his franchise card. him in early March to prevent him from becoming an unrestricted free agent. spy.
“In my mind, I knew he would be here,” Ravens left the settlement Ronnie Stanley speak. “He’s a competitor. He wants to win. This is his team, and this is his offense. Money is not the most important thing to Lamar. He really is. want to win, contrary to what many people think.”
Jackson missed the last six games because of a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) sprain in his left knee, and the Ravens struggled to attack without him. Baltimore failed to score more than 17 points in a game in Jackson’s absence.
Several NFL analysts, including former quarterback Michael Vickisuggested that Jackson wear a brace and help Baltimore in the post-season.
“The outside world, and all the different stories people draw in their minds, are funny sometimes,” Campbell said. “Lamar Jackson is a guy who loves football and I really believe he worked as hard as he could to get his chance to play.”
Like the safety of Baltimore chuck clark added, “He’s not well. You’ve seen him barely walk here. You can’t force someone to play.”
Jackson’s durability became a big issue. As of Week 15 of 2021, he’s sidelined 10 of Baltimore’s past 22 games.
On Thursday, Jackson tweeted about the severity of his injuries, writing that he “had a 3rd degree PCL Sprain.”
“When you do this at a high level, you know if you can be productive,” says Stanley. “I trust Lamar.”
Last week, Ravens . wide receiver Sammy Watkins implied to The Washington Post that Jackson would return to the field if there was no stagnation in his contract with the team. On Monday, Watkins clarified his remarks, saying: “If a guy is injured and can’t play, he shouldn’t be on the pitch. I’m just being selfish saying, ‘Shoot, I hope. I hope he plays, and I hope he hobbles out there.’ It’s not personal. He said something to me the other day. We laughed about it.”
Jackson did not travel with Raven for their knockout match in Cincinnati. He was dealing with an illness, a source said.
Jackson did not enter the dressing room on Monday during the hour-long media presence.
“I hope that he comes back. That’s my guy,” Ravens tight finish Mark Andrews speak. “I have nothing but love and respect for the number 8 as a human being, a player and a friend.”
