![[original_title]](https://rawnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1726234817_i-1024x576.jpeg)
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Early within the second quarter of the season opener at Kansas Metropolis, Lamar Jackson, as he had accomplished so many instances in opposition to the Chiefs, dropped again and located a working lane. Jackson scrambled for 7 yards after which headed for the sideline round midfield.
Earlier than going out of bounds, although, the reigning NFL Most Helpful Participant surprisingly lowered his left shoulder and delivered a shot to Chiefs security Jaylen Watson. Jackson, who has been recognized for avoiding large hits, initiated one this time.
“I believe I’ve [gotten] hit like that earlier than — occurring the sideline [when] I am about to step out and anyone hits me,” Jackson mentioned. “So, it was like, ‘I would slightly hit you earlier than you hit me.'”
Jackson’s 122 yards dashing had been his most in 4 years and set an NFL document for many by a quarterback in a season opener. His 16 carries within the 27-20 loss had been the second most by a quarterback 27 or older. Solely former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Carson Wentz, who ran 17 instances final season in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17, ran greater than Jackson, 27.
Solely three quarterbacks 27 or older have run the ball greater than 100 instances in a season: Cam Newton, Josh Allen and Michael Vick. Essentially the most single-season dashing yards for quarterbacks 27 or older is 754 by Newton in 2017.
However, as Jackson has proved in his first six seasons, he isn’t like different signal-callers.
“Dude modified the sport,” mentioned large receiver Davante Adams, whose Las Vegas Raiders play at Baltimore on Sunday. “He is one of the best, for my part, finest ball service ever — it doesn’t matter what place you need to discuss. I do not assume anyone’s as large of a risk carrying the soccer.”
Jackson has made adjustments as he is gotten older. He did not really feel as quick final season, which led to him dropping 15 pounds this offseason.
In his first recreation along with his new weight, Jackson produced 5 runs of 10 yards or longer. It was tied for probably the most in Week 1 this yr with working backs Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason.
“I felt nice; I am not going to mislead you,” Jackson mentioned. “I consider, somebody was like, ‘I do not like his weight. He misplaced weight, and I do not know the way he’ll look on the market, and people guys are big,’ and I am like, ‘On the finish of the day, I am a grown man, too.'”
Sturdiness has all the time been a query with Jackson as a result of he takes extra hits by working with the ball. However he is proved his type of play has endurance. He has run the ball way over any quarterback has in his first six seasons — 875 dashing attempts– and his two vital accidents, a proper ankle harm in 2021 and a sprained left knee in 2022, got here when he was within the pocket.
Jackson sat out the Ravens’ apply on Monday however returned Wednesday to completely take part. He wasn’t listed on the harm report.
Can Jackson final if he’s working the ball as a lot as he did within the season opener?
“I do not know. I am not looking for out,” Jackson mentioned. “We have Derrick Henry, we have Justice Hill — these guys. However I’ll do no matter it takes to win, and in that sort of recreation, generally you have to do what you have to do.”
Requested if there’s a high-quality line between permitting Jackson to run to attempt to win video games and defending him, Ravens coach John Harbaugh did not let the reporter end the query, saying, “We do not dwell in that world of high-quality strains. We dwell on the planet of competing — going on the market and doing one of the best [that] you possibly can.”
The Ravens did not plan for Jackson to run that a lot. There have been solely six designed runs. Jackson tied a profession excessive with 10 scrambles for 75 yards.
“When he does tuck it and run and the play is over, you are type of like, ‘What did I simply witness?'” Ravens large receiver Nelson Agholor mentioned. “He is type of like Houdini on the market.”
Within the opener, Jackson moved into third place for many dashing yards by a quarterback in NFL historical past. With 5,380 yards, he’s 730 yards away from breaking Vick’s document. The distinction is Jackson has averaged 61.8 yards dashing per recreation to Vick’s 42.7.
In terms of Jackson’s working potential, Harbaugh stays impressed, however he isn’t shocked anymore.
“I suppose we have seen it a lot, and it is simply been a present to Baltimore and to the Ravens,” Harbaugh mentioned. “However being in there with him day-after-day, I acknowledge how a lot it means to him, how aggressive he’s, what sort of a fighter he’s. I imply, this man needs to win, he needs to make performs, he needs to steer his group.”
