Back on May 12, Jamison Hensley of ESPN noted that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson attending portions of the team’s offseason workout program and its first minicamp under new head coach Jesse Minter was an “encouraging sign” amid Jackson’s desire for a lucrative contract extension.
Thus, it was quite noteworthy when reports surfaced on Tuesday claiming that Jackson was not present for Baltimore’s OTA practice session. Later in the day, Minter indicated that outsiders shouldn’t read too much into Jackson’s whereabouts.
Ravens “expect” this from Lamar Jackson after OTA absence
“Lamar’s been one of our leaders of the offseason program,” Minter said. “Couple of things going on yesterday and today. Do expect him to be back soon.”
As Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk shared, the five-year deal reportedly worth up to $260M with $185M guaranteed that Jackson signed in 2023 includes a $750,000 workout bonus tied to his attendance for at least 80 percent of the voluntary offseason program. Jackson did not meet the requirements to receive his bonuses in 2024 and 2025.
While Jackson certainly can afford to forfeit those bonuses, both Minter and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle previously made it known they wanted the two-time regular-season MVP to attend voluntary workouts. On Tuesday, Minter suggested Jackson will be spotted at the team facility before Baltimore’s mandatory minicamp gets underway on June 9.
Ravens “know” when Lamar Jackson will be back at work
“We’ve had some great conversations,” Minter added about Jackson. “Know when he’s gonna be back, and I’ll probably leave those between me and Lamar.”
A story from last week hinted that teams around the league are monitoring what could become an “interesting” situation involving Jackson and the Ravens. Jackson’s contract prevents Baltimore from using the franchise tag to retain his rights, meaning he will be on track to reach free agency in March 2028 unless he signs an extension.
As Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic mentioned, Jackson hasn’t participated in a team-related media event since shortly after Baltimore’s 2025 season-ending loss to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers this past January. Thus, outsiders are left with more questions than answers regarding Jackson’s mindset this spring.