Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens MVP, had a drastically different look at the start of OTAs. Last year’s MVP arrived for voluntary practices 20 pounds lighter than the previous season, and it shows, as Lamar appears much smaller and leaner as OTAs begin.
Quarterbacks have taken diverse approaches to their weight, with Tua Tagovailoa and Joe Burrow adding significant weight, while Lamar reduced down. Weight adjustments for quarterbacks are made for a variety of reasons, the most important of which being to improve play style and reduce injury risk.
The Baltimore Ravens’ MVP is looking really slim.
On Wednesday, during the Ravens’ OTAs, the organization posted a video of Jackson jogging onto the practice field, and many fans took notice. Jackson has clearly lost a lot of weight since the previous season. While fans believe Jackson shed a substantial amount of weight, Lamar himself stated in an interview with Complex Sports that he has actually lost 10 pounds, saying:
“Most definitely. “I was 230 two years ago,” Jackson explained. “I was 215 last season, but now I’m like 205.”
Fans weren’t the only ones who commented on Jackson’s thinner appearance; Ravens tight end Isiah Likely also mentioned the weight drop. Likely was on “Up & Adams” this month and reported that Jackson is looking considerably faster ahead of the season.
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“I saw ‘L,’ he was throwing again, and I was walking, looking around, and I was like, ‘Who is that?’ And he runs over to me, and I’m like, “Man, there’s no way.” What haven’t you eaten lately, ‘L’? And he says, ‘Man, I’m fine now. “I’m back, running high ‘L,'” It was most likely said via Baltimore Beatdown. “I’ll just say it. If you believed ‘L’ was swift or couldn’t be caught, you were mistaken. Man. I am telling you. I’m not sure if unanimity is going to be the word this year. That is all I am going to say.
Jackson’s statistics did not stand out this season, but he was named MVP for the second time in his career. The team added Derrick Henry in the summer, which should help Jackson slim down as he now has a big, strong running back to handle the most of the running this year.
If Jackson returns to his first-time MVP form with this slim down, the league could be in serious trouble. Lamar has visibly slowed since entering the NFL, but if losing weight restores his speed and explosive, the Baltimore Ravens could be a more feared squad than previous season.
