Lamar Jackson Lost Weight Because He ‘Doesn’t Like Getting Caught’

Lamar Jackson’s leaner physique became a hot topic a few months ago, and the Ravens quarterback is still being asked about it.

During his recent sit-down interview with CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, Jackson explained why he decided to slim down this offseason.

“Just so I could move around without getting fatigued. That’s all,” Jackson said. “I don’t know if I was getting fatigued last year; probably if I get a first down. But I don’t like getting caught if I do decide to run.”

Asked if he felt like he was slower at a heavier weight, Jackson replied: “My eyes might be deceiving me, but I believe I looked a little slower, but not now.”

Jackson said in May that he was down to 205, which is 25 pounds less than he was in 2022 and 10 pounds less than he was last season

“I was fat, to me,” Jackson told Jones. “I feel like I was fat. I just saw a video from two years ago [against] the Browns. I looked like, out of shape. But I was in shape.”

Despite his self-deprecating comment, it appeared that most of the weight Jackson added in 2022 was muscle mass.

Jackson dismissed the notion that getting older had anything to do with his perceived diminished speed.

“I’m only 27. I’m still young,” Jackson said. “Definitely don’t have anything to do with age.”

The Ravens’ cornerback group includes a three-time Pro Bowler in Marlon Humphrey and first-round rookie Nate Wiggins, but The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec said Brandon Stephens should not be overlooked.

“For all the talk about how good a healthy Marlon Humphrey looks and the impact Nate Wiggins could make as a rookie, Stephens is quietly having a really good training camp,” Zrebiec wrote. “If he carries this momentum through the regular season and puts together another strong campaign, the pending unrestricted free agent is going to be a very rich young man at this time next year.”

The versatile Stephens has been durable and dependable for the Ravens the past three seasons and is coming off a breakout year in which he started 16 games.

Zrebiec was impressed with what he saw from the 2021 third-round pick at yesterday’s practice.

“Lamar Jackson tried Brandon Stephens twice early in Tuesday’s practice,” Zrebiec wrote. “It wasn’t an unfamiliar feeling for Stephens, who was one of the most targeted cornerbacks in football last season. It also wasn’t unusual to see Stephens stand up to the challenge.

“Jackson gave Devontez Walker a shot at a deep jump ball, but Stephens elevated alongside the rookie wide receiver and swatted the pass away. Two plays later, Jackson again tested Stephens by giving Zay Flowers a chance on a deep pass, which was pretty well thrown. Stephens, however, was all over Flowers, who couldn’t make the catch. Stephens got up and waved his index finger, as if to say, ‘Don’t try me again.’ He also did a little dance and struck a pose with safety Marcus Williams egging him on.”

Two sets of preseason power rankings were released this week, and the Ravens were in the top four in both.

NFL.com’s Eric Edholm put the Ravens at No. 3, behind the Kansas City Chiefs (No. 1) and San Francisco 49ers (No. 2).

“Now that Lamar Jackson has been debugged of whatever illness was ailing him before, the Ravens can move headlong into molding the offensive line,” Edholm wrote. “The early camp reports suggest the defense looks good again, especially in the secondary. We expect the Ravens to be strong, or at least competent, on special teams. So that’s an MVP winner, Derrick Henry and some quality pass catchers carrying the load offensively.

“There’s also the hope that Jackson and Henry, even some others, can help minimize the worry on the O-line with their individual talent. That might work to a degree. But there are three OL jobs open right now, and here is who they could come down to: a second-year player with zero snaps coming off major injury (Andrew Vorhees) , a converted tackle at guard (Daniel Faalele) and a rookie (Roger Rosengarten) at right tackle. I’m not doubting Jackson’s magic or the Ravens’ ability to whip this line into sustainable shape, but it’s still a concern until it’s not.”

The Ravens were No. 4 in The 33rd Team’s Marcus Mosher’s rankings, behind the Chiefs (No. 1), 49ers (No. 2), and Detroit Lions (No. 3).

“The Baltimore Ravens were the No. 1 seed in the AFC last season but were upset by the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. Their roster isn’t quite as deep as it was last season, but the Ravens have a combined record of 58-19 with Lamar Jackson in the starting lineup. As long as he is healthy, the Ravens are a threat in the AFC,” Mosher wrote.