Maxx Crosby didn’t leave much room for debate when Lamar Jackson came up. And in one blunt line, he made the league’s view of the Ravens quarterback pretty clear.
“F- it, they’re a quarterback. Besides Lamar Jackson, I’m running their a- down no matter what.”
That kind of respect says plenty about where Jackson still stands, even after a rough 2025 season for Baltimore. The Ravens were hit hard by injuries, and Jackson was right in the middle of it. His issues started in Week 3 and lingered all the way through Week 18, keeping him from doing the kind of damage on the ground that has defined so much of his career.
The numbers tell the story. Jackson finished the 2025 campaign with 67 carries for 349 yards and two touchdowns, a major drop from his usual production. For a quarterback who has built a reputation on turning broken plays into explosive gains, that was a clear step back.
Still, the bigger picture hasn’t changed much. Jackson remains one of the NFL’s most dangerous quarterbacks when he’s healthy, and the expectation is that he can get back to dominating on the ground in 2026. He’s still in that group of top three or four quarterbacks in the league, even with all the talk that has followed him about injuries and whether he’s losing a step.
That concern is understandable after this past year. He did look less explosive, and the hamstring issue clearly made him easier to contain. For a dual-threat quarterback, that kind of injury can take away the very thing that makes him special.
But Jackson’s game has never been only about speed. He’s developed into an elite passer who can attack defenses from the pocket, and when he does take off, he’s still one of the most dangerous scrambling threats the league has seen since Michael Vick.
Crosby’s comment only reinforces that reality. If one of the best run-defending edge rushers in football is still giving Jackson that kind of credit, the rest of the NFL is paying attention too.
And it’s not just the rushing threat. Jackson’s ability to improvise and create something out of nothing remains one of the most frustrating parts of trying to defend him.
He has spent his career escaping pressure and finding receivers downfield when the play looks dead. That piece of his game figures to be a major part of Baltimore’s 2026 revenge tour.
As for Crosby, he won’t have to deal with Jackson this season. The Ravens backed out of it.
In Other News...
Ravens Fans Are Sending A Loud Message About This Season
Ravens fans are already buying into a season that feels like it could start with a lot of momentum. A recent survey showed overwhelming confidence in Baltimore reaching double-digit wins, and plenty of that optimism comes from the mix of coaching changes and roster upgrades, including the additions of edge rusher Trey Hendrickson and guard Olaivavega Ioane. Even the betting markets are leaning toward a strong year, which says plenty about how the team is being viewed before a snap is played.
Still, there are real questions tucked underneath the enthusiasm. Declan Doyle is stepping in as the new offensive play-caller, and the biggest issue is whether he is ready for that responsibility right away. Baltimore also has a few key personnel situations to sort through, including the status of Nnamdi Madubuike, so the ceiling looks high but the path to getting there is not entirely settled yet. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Are Asking Ronnie Stanley To Fix A Problem Fans Know Too Well
The Ravens spent the offseason reshaping an offensive line that needed a reset, bringing in John Simpson and Vega Ioane while also asking the unit to absorb some familiar turnover. Even with the new faces, the group still enters 2026 with questions attached, and Sharp Football Analysis has Baltimores line sitting 24th in its preseason ranking.
That leaves Ronnie Stanley in a familiar spot as one of the biggest swing pieces on the roster. The veteran tackle, a former Pro Bowler, is being counted on to steady Lamar Jacksons protection after an injury-marred 2025 slowed his play, and the Ravens need a cleaner, more dependable version of Stanley if the offense is going to look like itself again. [Read more 🡒]