Baltimore’s questions about Lamar Jackson aren’t going away, but Jesse Minter made it clear he’s not buying the noise.
On Wednesday, the Ravens head coach went on “Up & Adams” and pushed back hard on the criticism aimed at his quarterback. Minter said he’s seen enough up close to trust exactly who Jackson is and what he means to the team.
“I don't really buy into anything that's said about Lamar," Minter said. "I think when you come and you, I was here when he was drafted.
He was a great player then, he was a great teammate. He was really engaging since I've walked in the door. ...
He's been an unbelievable leader. He out almost every offseason day.
He's making guys like repeat drills, he's just developing as a real leader.
"He's taken ownership of the team. ... It drives me insane, some of the stuff that was said about this guy.
He's unbelievable. There's nobody we'd rather have as a quarterback at the Baltimore Ravens."
Jackson’s résumé still gives Baltimore plenty to lean on. He signed a five-year, $260 million extension in 2023, then delivered his second NFL MVP award while helping the Ravens reach the AFC championship game. The run ended there, with Kansas City knocking Baltimore out before a Super Bowl trip could materialize.
The following season brought another playoff berth, but the Ravens fell to the Bills in a divisional-round matchup. Last year was more frustrating on an individual level, with Jackson limited to 13 games because of multiple injuries. He still threw for 2,549 yards and 21 touchdowns.
The contract situation around Jackson remains unresolved for now, even with two years left on that five-year deal. Baltimore did make one major move this week, though, handing Zay Flowers a four-year, $140 million extension on Tuesday.
That deal drew a blunt reaction from Nick Wright on FS1’s “First Things First.”
“It is gobsmacking that the Ravens gave him that deal," Wright said. "And it is a sign that the Ravens think: we do have a star receiver. ... It is a further commitment to the idea: 'Lamar, you’ve got enough, man.'”
Baltimore opens the 2026 season in Week 1 against the Colts on Sept. 13.
In Other News...
Lamar Jackson Just Got A Strong Answer To That Ravens Narrative
Lamar Jackson has spent enough time at the center of the Ravens' conversation that any fresh narrative around him tends to travel fast, but Jesse Minter was quick to push back on the idea that the quarterback has ever been checked out. The Ravens coach described Jackson as an engaging leader from the moment he arrived in Baltimore, and he made clear that the claims about disengagement do not have much actual support behind them.
That kind of defense matters because Jackson is still the engine of everything Baltimore wants to do, and the coaching staff is trying to keep the focus on what comes next instead of old talking points. There is also optimism that new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle can give Jackson another lift, which only adds to the sense that the Ravens are more interested in building around their quarterback than entertaining outside noise. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Camp Battles Could Shape Lamar Jacksons Early Season Ceiling
Training camp has turned the Ravens' depth chart into a live puzzle, with a few key spots carrying real weight for how the early offense and defense will look around Lamar Jackson. Center, receiver and edge depth are all in play, and the competition has been shaped by injuries, new faces and a coaching staff still sorting out how best to assign roles before the season opens. Eric DeCosta and the staff have both framed these decisions as part evaluation, part necessity, especially with several players trying to carve out jobs in a roster that needs dependable answers quickly.
Ethan Pocic, Rashod Bateman, Devontez Walker and outside linebacker Tyus Robinson all sit in the middle of that conversation, and the choices at those spots could ripple beyond camp. The Ravens want stability up front and more clarity at receiver, but those plans are being tested by the reality of how the roster has been built and how much responsibility the younger players can handle right away. For a team with bigger ambitions, the real intrigue is whether these battles sharpen the offense and defense in time, or leave Baltimore waiting on a few key pieces longer than it would like. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Linebacker Depth Suddenly Feels A Lot More Important This Camp
Training camp has a way of turning depth charts into real-time problem solving, and the Ravens did some of that this week by adding linebacker Jamon Johnson to the roster. The Maryland native brings a familiar local tie along with NFL experience from Green Bay, and he arrives after college stops at Georgia and Kentucky, giving Baltimore another body in a room that has needed one.
The move comes with injuries and limited preseason availability thinning out the linebacking group, which has made every practice rep feel a little more valuable. For a defense that leans on position flexibility and competition, Johnson now gets a chance to show he can be part of the answer while Baltimore sorts out just how deep that unit really is. [Read more 🡒]