The upcoming NFL season promises to showcase a rejuvenated Lamar Jackson, according to his Baltimore Ravens teammate Zay Flowers. After a disappointing 2023 campaign that saw the Ravens miss the playoffs for the first time since 2021, the team is eager for a turnaround.
The previous year ended with an 8-9 record and a crushing defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final week, which cost them the AFC North crown. Jackson, a two‑time MVP, was sidelined for four games due to injury, and the Ravens stumbled out of the gate with a 1-5 start that left them scrambling for wins. Even when Jackson returned, he never quite recaptured the electrifying, game‑breaking form that defined his earlier seasons.
Nevertheless, analysts and insiders believe that a healthier, more focused Jackson will be a key catalyst as Baltimore aims to re‑enter the Super Bowl conversation this September. "They're going to see a different version this year," Flowers told Sky Sports, emphasizing that a new offensive system and a clean bill of health will give Jackson a genuine fresh start. "He's going to take care of himself, everything.
You're going to see a new version of everybody, if I'm being honest. Soon, real soon, everybody. Real soon." Flowers has emerged as Jackson's most reliable target, leading the Ravens last season with 86 receptions for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns.
Jackson himself posted a 63.6 percent completion rate, throwing for 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His rushing numbers, however, dipped to a career‑low 349 yards—well below the 695‑plus yards he has consistently produced in prior years. Despite the dip, Jackson remains one of the league's most recognizable faces and a perennial contender for the championship, having disproved early draft doubts to become a versatile, dynamic play‑maker. "He stayed true to himself.
He doesn't change for anybody," Flowers said, describing the quarterback's steadfast character. "He's always going to be him and you can count on that.
Consistency, confidence, and putting God first—that's his formula for success. Nothing can beat that, and that's what he has." For younger teammates like second‑year wide receiver and return specialist LaJohntay Wester, adjusting to Jackson's extraordinary skill set can still feel surreal. "It's crazy," Wester marveled. "I saw him scramble in practice last year and put the ball behind his back like he was playing basketball.
Quarterback coaches usually tell them not to do that, but that's Lamar—it's Lamarvelous. He does those things in practice all week, not just on Sundays." The offseason also brought significant changes on the coaching side. After 18 seasons under John Harbaugh, the Ravens hired former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as head coach.
Flowers welcomed the shift, noting that the new regime offers players a chance to prove themselves in ways they couldn't under the previous regime. "He brings energy. Everybody wants to play. We're excited to start fresh and push toward the same goal— a Super Bowl," Flowers said.
Wester echoed that sentiment, pointing out that the new coaching staff injected a missing spark into the locker room. "Coach Minter is bringing new energy into the building.
That's something the Ravens lacked last year, and we have it now. Everybody is on board and we have a solid plan," he added. The Ravens have been knocking on the Super Bowl door for several seasons, falling short in the divisional round three times since 2019 and suffering an AFC Championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at the end of the 2023 season. Yet they remain a formidable force in the AFC, determined to break the Chiefs' recent dominance and contend for the title in 2026.
Flowers summed up the competitive atmosphere within the team: "If you look around, you see Derrick Henry, then you look to your right and see Lamar Jackson. It makes you grind harder, put your best foot forward. Great players push you to become the best version of yourself." For Wester, the opportunity to learn from veterans like Zay Flowers, Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson fuels his own ambition.
Drafted in the sixth round out of Colorado, he spent most of his rookie year as a return specialist, but now he sees a path to greater involvement. "I'm a young guy, so seeing guys like Zay, Derrick, Lamar every day makes me want to work even harder to impress them," he explained. "They're legends in my city, and being around them makes you want to be on point and keep your ducks in a row." In summary, the Ravens head into the new season with a rejuvenated quarterback, a refreshed coaching staff, and a roster eager to translate potential into championship glory.
If Jackson can stay healthy and tap into the fresh energy that Flowers and his teammates describe, Baltimore could very well present the most compelling version of Lamar Jackson yet—a version that might finally carry the team over the Super Bowl threshold.