The upcoming NFL season promises to showcase a markedly different, more polished version of 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 franchise is eager for a resurgence, and Jackson is at the heart of that hope. Last year the Ravens stumbled to an 8-9 record, ceding the AFC North title to the Pittsburgh Steelers after a decisive defeat in the final week.
The season was marred by injuries, most notably to two‑time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, who missed four games. The team’s rocky 1-5 start forced them into a perpetual catch‑up mode, and even when Jackson returned he never quite displayed the electrifying, game‑breaking form that made him a household name.
Nonetheless, analysts and insiders alike predict that Jackson will return healthier, more disciplined, and ready to lead Baltimore back into Super Bowl contention. "They're going to see a different version this year," Flowers told Sky Sports, emphasizing the impact of a new offensive system and a clean bill of health. "Under a new system, he gets a fresh start. He's going to be healthy.
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 cemented himself as Jackson's most reliable target, finishing the 2023 season with 86 receptions for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns, leading the Ravens in receiving yards. His confidence in Jackson’s abilities is palpable, and he believes the quarterback’s consistency and authenticity will be the driving forces behind the team’s revival.
"He stayed true to himself. He doesn't change for nobody," Flowers said.
"He's always going to be him and you can count on that. Consistency, being yourself, confidence, and putting God first—those are the ingredients for winning. That's what he has." For younger players like second‑year wide receiver LaJohntay Wester, witnessing Jackson’s improvisational brilliance is both awe‑inspiring and educational. Wester recalled a practice moment when Jackson scrambled and tossed the ball behind his back, a move more reminiscent of basketball than football.
"That's something quarterbacks are not allowed to do, coaches tell them ‘that's something you don't do’, but it's Lamar Jackson, it's Lamarvelous," Wester laughed. He added that seeing Jackson replicate his Sunday magic during weekday drills reinforces the notion that the quarterback lives and breathes his unique style.
The offseason brought significant changes to the Ravens organization. After 18 seasons at the helm, longtime head coach John Harbaugh departed, making way for former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. The coaching transition has injected fresh energy into the locker room, according to Flowers.
"Everyone who didn’t get a chance to prove themselves under Coach Harbaugh now has a new opportunity with Coach Minter. You can feel that energy in the room. He brings energy; everybody wants to play. It's a fresh start, and we’re all excited to chase the same goal—a Super Bowl." Wester echoed this sentiment, noting that the new staff has supplied the missing spark the Ravens lacked last season.
"Coach Minter is bringing a new energy into the building. I feel like that’s something the Ravens were missing last year, and we got it this year. Everybody is on board, and we have a good plan for us," he said.
Jackson’s statistical output from the previous season was a mixed bag. He completed 192 of 302 passes (a 63.6% completion rate) for 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. However, his rushing production dipped to a career‑low 349 yards, a stark contrast to his usual 695‑plus yard seasons.
Despite the dip, Jackson remains one of the NFL’s most marketable faces and a perennial contender in the Super Bowl conversation, having shed early‑career draft doubts to become a versatile, dual‑threat playmaker. Flowers believes Jackson’s unwavering self‑belief and personal values are the cornerstone of his success. "He doesn’t change for anything going on in his life.
He stays true to himself, and that consistency translates to the field. When you have confidence, you win. There’s nothing that can beat that," Flowers explained.
The Ravens’ recent playoff history adds urgency to their 2026 ambitions. Since 2019, the team has been eliminated in the Divisional Round three times and fell short in the AFC Championship Game to the Kansas City Chiefs at the close of the 2023 season.
Yet, the franchise continues to field one of the league’s most talented rosters, positioning itself as a serious challenger in the AFC, especially as the Chiefs’ era begins to wane. Flowers summed up the competitive atmosphere: "If you look around, you see Derrick Henry, then you look to your right and see Lamar Jackson, you’re like, ‘oh yeah, I’ve got to grind and put my best foot forward.’ It only makes you better with great players around you.
It pushes you to be the best version of yourself." For younger players like Wester, the presence of established stars provides both motivation and a benchmark. Drafted in the sixth round out of Colorado, Wester spent most of his rookie year as a return specialist.
This season, he hopes to carve out a larger role on offense. "I’m a young guy, so seeing Zay, Derrick, Lamar every day going hard makes me want to work even harder to impress them," he said.
"These guys are legends from my city. Being around them means you can’t afford to mess up; you have to be on point and have your ducks in a row." In summary, the Ravens are entering the 2026 season with a rejuvenated quarterback, a revitalized coaching staff, and a roster hungry for success.
Lamar Jackson’s fresh start, under a new system and with a healthier body, could well be the catalyst that propels Baltimore back to the brink of a championship. The synergy between veteran leadership and youthful ambition may finally give the Ravens the edge they need to knock on the Super Bowl door once more.