Ravens Coach John Harbaugh Defends Not Playing Lamar Jackson in Preseason

Quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) of the Baltimore Ravens drops back to pass while being pressured by defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton (98) of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, on January 28, 2024. Rob Carr/Getty Images

Ravens coach John Harbaugh is not risking injuries with his two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson.

That’s why Jackson has not played in any preseason games over the past three years. Harbaugh wants to ensure that Jackson is fully healthy for the regular season. The Ravens have a particularly tough challenge this season when they play in the NFL opener against Super Bowl champion the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 5.

The Ravens will need Jackson rested and ready when they play at a raucous Arrowhead Stadium.

“We want to start the season off well,” Harbaugh said after practice on Aug. 19. “We want to put our best foot forward right out of the gates as much as we can. It’s hard to do, there’s no guarantee you’re going to do that, and there’s a lot of question marks to that every year. We have done well over the years doing that, because we practice well. It comes down to practice. Practice is what makes it; preseason games don’t make or break you that way, it’s the practices that make you, because that’s what you stack.

“There are advantages to practicing; you see teams do it, like the Chiefs for instance, they’ve always done it. All the way back to [Chiefs coach] Andy [Reid with the Eagles] in 1999, they’ve always done it. We had done it for a while, and we haven’t done it in the last few years. I think you can do it either way, and that’s the way we’re doing it this year,” Harbaugh said.

Jackson is vital to the Ravens and is considered one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the history of the NFL.

Jackson is the 11th player in NFL history to win the MVP award multiple times, joining Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, Jim Brown, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Kurt Warner.

Last season, Jackson threw for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns with career highs in completion percentage (67.2) and yards per completion (8) over 16 regular-season games. He also led the Ravens with 821 yards rushing, averaging 5.5 yards per carry with five touchdowns.

Jackson is fourth all-time for rushing yards by a quarterback behind Michael Vick (6,109), Cam Newton (5,631), Russell Wilson (5,307), and Jackson (5,258). At age 27, Jackson has plenty of time to break that record.

The Ravens have a joint practice with the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 22 and then play their final preseason game at Lambeau Field on Aug. 24. Jackson will get practice reps against the Packers and Harbaugh finds value in that strategy because it’s a controlled environment.

“The mindset of the two teams is the most important thing,“ Harbaugh said. ”If both teams come in with the same idea, that they’re two good football teams that are trying to take advantage of the opportunity to practice against another good football team and get a good football practice in, that’s what you want. If a team is coming in like they’re trying to prove something—some junior high [school] thing, then it’s usually not good. We’re excited to go against Green Bay.

“We think they’re that kind of a group. [They’re] a good football team. [They’re] right there; [they were] almost in the NFC Championship Game, [and they’re] a proven team. So, we’re looking forward to that opportunity to go up and practice against those guys,” Harbaugh added.

Jackson is also looking at the big picture. Sometimes, when he is on the sidelines during a preseason game, he gets the urge to play. However, Jackson’s main goal is to win the Super Bowl, and the Ravens cannot achieve that goal if he misses numerous games because of an injury.

Jackson missed 10 games over the 2021 and 2022 seasons, and the Ravens went 2–8 without him in the lineup.

“I’m very competitive, so sometimes I do [say], ‘I want to go play,’ but at the same time I know why our coaches [are] keeping us off the field; and I'd rather just play [the] regular season then going out there and things happen,” Jackson said after practice on Aug. 19.

In addition, the Ravens have no concerns about the health of four-time Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews, who was involved in a car accident on Aug. 14. Andrews has not practiced since the accident, but Harbaugh said the team is just being cautious. Andrews will travel with the team to Green Bay for the joint practice.

“We’re not messing with it right now. Don’t worry about Mark,” Harbaugh said.