OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson made it look easy during his MVP season, leading the NFL in touchdown passes and setting the league mark for most quarterback rushing yards.
Jackson has seen more fights in his first eight weeks of this season, ranking 27th in overtaking (1,343) and 30th in completion rate (60.5%). In the 28:24 defeat on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he achieved the worst four sales of his career.
How did Jackson deal with the adversity?
“He still has a lot to learn, but the great thing about Lamar is that he realizes it,” said Raven coach John Harbaugh on Friday. “He understands that people put him first. He has to find a way to streamline his game and beat these things with precision and accuracy and his wits. You do all they can with a lot of bright and talented people Stop Lamar Jackson the week they play him. “
Baltimore’s offense dropped to 22nd, and not all of the Ravens problems should fall on Jackson. The offensive line has been dealing with injuries all season, and two starters (left tackle against Ronnie Stanley and right guard Tire Phillips) are in an injured reserve. The Ravens have lost nearly as many passes in seven games this season (eight) as they did all of last season (an NFL low of 10).
“It’s not 11 against 1. It’s 11 against 11,” said Harbaugh. “You can focus 11 on 1 if you want. But there are 10 other people out there. I think that’s what we’re trying to get our people across.”
Jackson’s support cast won’t immediately include Dez Bryant, the former Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys who was doing his sophomore week on the Baltimore training team.
This week, Jackson praised Bryant for his running track and strong hands. But 31-year-old Bryant hasn’t played a game since December 2017.
Harbaugh was non-committal when asked when the Ravens would remove Bryant from the training team.
“When we feel like he’s ready to get in shape, knows the offense well enough and has enough skill in enough games with Lamar, we’ll approach him,” said Harbaugh. “If it happens, I think it will. I don’t think it’s something you’re trying to force-feed. So we just have to see how we go.”
Harbaugh was more optimistic about the return of part of his defense. On Tuesday, the Ravens put six defensive players – linebackers Patrick Queen, LJ Fort, Malik Harrison and Tyus Bowser, Safety DeShon Elliott and Cornerback Terrell Bonds – on the reserve / COVID-19 list after being classified as “high risk” “Close ties with Marlon Humphrey after the all-pro cornerback tested positive for the coronavirus.
None of the close contacts showed any symptoms, Harbaugh said. If players pass their tests on Saturday morning, they can take a walking tour before traveling with the team to Sunday’s game at the Indianapolis Colts (5-2).
“It’s something you deal with. It’s part of life right now,” said Harbaugh. “Every single person in the country deals with such things in their life. The cool thing about football is [it’s] a microcosm of life. There are specific rules and you do your best to follow them. Sometimes you fall short.
“I think the metaphor here with the NFL is good in the sense that you are doing everything you can to protect one another from this virus. And yet you keep taking on the challenges of life and trying to be excellent at the things that you are doing. “
The Ravens (5-2) have won nine games on the road but never won at Indianapolis and lost all six of their trips, including the playoffs.
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