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Lamar Jackson was absent from a voluntary practice for the Baltimore Ravens, and that usually raises eyebrows.
New coach Jesse Minter didn’t seem to be sweating it.
“Lamar has been one of our leaders of the offseason program, and he had a few things going on yesterday and today, and I expect him to be back soon,” said Minter, who replaced John Harbaugh after last season. “We’ve had some good conversations. I know when he comes back and again, I’ll probably leave them between me and Lamar.”
Jackson’s participation in these types of OTAs has been sporadic over the years. It’s hard to say how much that matters, but it’s certainly an issue critics have pointed out from time to time. His contract, with two years remaining, has also been a significant topic of late after he and the Ravens failed to agree on an extension before the start of free agency. Baltimore instead restructured Jackson’s deal to create cap space.
Jackson was at Minter’s first minicamp with the Ravens last month.
That camp wasn’t open to reporters, but Tuesday’s OTA was, and it provided a chance to see how the new coach handled practice on a hot day in Owings Mills. Finally, the team participated in a small game where players from the offense and defense competed to throw medicine balls.
Minter said it’s part of preparing the team to play well in key moments, something the Ravens have struggled with the last few years.
“We end practice every day (with a) ‘At our best when our best is needed’ period and so it could be something else. Today we decided to do a little friendly competition,” Minter said. “Right now you can’t really do the football competition and so I thought it would be something different, something fun. I’m trying to make guys not know what’s going on and answer the bell when their number is called and it’s as simple as that. That’s really all we’re trying to do with it and make it fun, make the guys pull for each other.”
Earlier, there was a scary moment when running back Derrick Henry took a knee with another player and stayed on the ground for a bit. He was able to resume training soon after.
“The ground felt like a bed for a while,” he said. “And I saw all of you (reporters) looking hot and bothered, so I thought, ‘I’ve got to give them something to tweet and write about.'”
Report from the Associated Press
