Aaron Rodgers showed up to Day 1 of OTAs for his new head coach, but Lamar Jackson with the Ravens did not. Despite his absence, however, HC Jesse Minter put a positive spin on it. While he didn’t jump for joy, he downplayed the absence of his franchise quarterback for voluntary practice sessions.
Asked about Jackson not showing up to OTAs, Minter volunteered that he’s “been one of our leaders of the offseason program”, via the Ravens’ website. “He had a couple things going on yesterday and today, and I do expect him to be back soon”, he added. He did not say that he anticipated him participating in any voluntary workouts, though.
For Lamar Jackson, attending the Ravens’ voluntary workouts has been as much the norm as not. Last year, he reported for the first day of OTAs but later skipped most of the rest. A year earlier, he skipped the first sessions and showed up later. Going back through the years, you see a similar pattern.
Now, of course, OTAs are always mandatory, and Lamar Jackson has played at an MVP level while skipping them. Working out in May or not hasn’t been the difference in the Ravens’ success or failure, by any means.
Still, when your team has a new head coach and offensive coordinator, you want your quarterback there. This year, most of the AFC North falls in that category. Aaron Rodgers kept the Steelers at arm’s length for months, but even he signed and reported for Day 1 of OTAs. For new Ravens HC Jesse Minter, it’s a less-than-ideal optic that Jackson is not participating. Yet he did show up earlier this year for the Ravens’ bonus practice sessions, so it’s not all been bad.
“We’ve had some great conversations. I know when he’s going to be back and again, I’ll probably leave those between me and Lamar”, he did say about Jackson. “We’ve had a lot of good meetings together talking through things. And so, all those interactions build what you hope to be obviously a longstanding, great relationship, and [it’s] certainly headed in the right direction there”.
One might argue that Lamar Jackson is angling for a new contract for the Ravens, but he has done this regardless of his contract status in the past. Despite its voluntary nature, it’s hard to justify the absence of your leaders. And it’s even harder to justify when you’re installing a new offense, especially with a very young offensive coordinator. Declan Doyle is only slightly older than Jackson is, and this is his first season as a play-calling coordinator.
The matter is prominent enough that the Ravens have tied bonuses to Jackson’s contract regarding his offseason participation. He has left money on the table in years past, and he may well do so again this year. But the good news is he’s still being a leader, somehow, someway, according to his head coach. Because of course you get nothing but honesty in situations like this.