Lamar Jackson has made a career out of doing things most quarterbacks can’t - or won’t - do. His ability to beat defenses both through the air and on the ground has made him one of the most electrifying players in football since the moment he took over as the Ravens’ starter. But as we head into Week 15, there’s no denying something’s missing from the usual Lamar highlight reel: the explosive runs that have defined his game.
Through 13 games, Jackson has just 307 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground - both on pace to be career lows. For a quarterback whose legs have often been just as dangerous as his arm, that’s a notable drop-off.
Yes, injuries have played a role. But even when he’s been on the field, the designed runs, the scrambles that turn into 40-yard sprints, the jukes that leave defenders grasping at air - they’ve been fewer and farther between.
So when Jackson was asked this week whether we might see more of those signature runs down the stretch, his answer raised some eyebrows.
“We’ll see how the game’s going, see how I’m feeling,” Jackson said.
It’s a measured response, but also a curious one, especially considering what’s at stake. The Ravens are 6-7 and clinging to playoff hopes.
With four games left, they need to win out and hope the Steelers drop a couple along the way. That’s not an impossible task, but it’s one that requires Jackson to be at his absolute best - not just as a passer, but as the dynamic, game-breaking athlete who once won an MVP by turning broken plays into touchdowns.
Right now, that version of Lamar hasn’t shown up consistently this season.
Baltimore’s offense as a whole has been uneven. The passing game has had its moments, but the rhythm hasn’t been there week to week.
The run game - traditionally a staple of this team’s identity - hasn’t been as dominant, and part of that is Jackson’s reduced role as a rushing threat. Defenses aren’t forced to account for his legs in the same way, which changes the math for everyone else on the field.
Still, the Ravens have enough talent to make a run. The defense has kept them in games, and the offense has shown flashes.
But flashes won’t cut it anymore. Not in mid-December, not with the playoffs on the line.
If Baltimore is going to make a push, they need MVP Lamar. The one who can take over a game with a single play.
The one who forces defensive coordinators to lose sleep. The one who - when healthy and confident - is one of the most dangerous weapons in football.
Can he still be that guy? Absolutely.
He’s done it before. But with the clock ticking on the Ravens’ season, the question isn’t just whether Lamar can flip the switch - it’s whether he will.