Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson showed up a week early for Ravens training camp, ending speculation that he might hold out because of his contract situation.
Jackson said he won’t let the potential new deal become a distraction and he lived up to his word.
It’s a good sign for the Ravens, who are looking to put last year’s injury-plagued, disappointing (8-9) season behind them.
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti probably wasn’t surprised by Jackson’s early arrival because he knows his commitment to the team regardless of the contract negotiations.
“The kid is so obsessed with winning a Super Bowl, that I think deep down he doesn’t think he’s worthy,” Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said. “I think he wants to say, ‘Now I deserve to be on top.’ I don’t think he is turned on by money that much and he knows it’s coming one way or the other. People can speculate any way they want.
“But I don’t talk to Lamar. It’s not my role. What are you going to do with a guy who wants to be unique? You don’t browbeat him into being a conformist.”
Jackson will play the 2022 season under a fifth-year option that pays him just over $23 million per season. His preference is to remain with the Ravens.
Even though Jackson showed up early for camp, don’t expect to play much or at all in the preseason games. Both he and the Ravens don’t want to risk any type of injury that would derail their season.
QB1 in the building❗️@Lj_era8 pic.twitter.com/4Jq99Xlouz
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 21, 2022
But it isn’t all good news as the Ravens gather this week for training camp.
The team placed six players that will open training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, which means it will be days or weeks before they can practice. However, that was expected because each of those players suffered season-ending injuries in 2021 and the list consists of left tackle Ronnie Stanley, starting outside linebacker Tyus Bowser, starting cornerback Marcus Peters, the running back tandem of J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards and safety Ar’Darius Washington.
Both GM Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh have expressed optimism all of these players will be available at some point during training camp or the regular season.
Stanley is rehabbing an ankle injury that kept him out of the lineup for much of the past two years. Stanley has not participated in any of the offseason workouts, and will likely need time to get back in shape.
Bowser is recovering from an Achilles injury he suffered in the last game of the season against Pittsburgh. However, the team expects him back by early August.
Marcus Peters had a season-ending knee and is one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL when he’s on the field. The secondary struggled without him and the Ravens will be patient to make sure the injury is healed.
Dobbins endured a season-ending knee injury, but he was on the sidelines at the recent minicamps doing work. Dobbins is expected to get back to being a dominant player at some point this year, perhaps as early as the opener against the Jets.
Edwards also had a season-ending knee injury in training camp and he has been conspicuously absent during this year’s workouts. The Ravens have said they are hopeful he will be ready to play in 2022.
Washington was one of the biggest surprises in last year’s training camp and he made the team as an undrafted free agent. He showed potential and played three games before suffering a foot injury in practice, but should be on the road to recovery,
