Baltimore Ravens wideout Zay Flowers says the upcoming season will showcase a newly refreshed Lamar Jackson, a version of the quarterback that could be the most dynamic yet. After a disappointing 2024 campaign that saw the Ravens miss the postseason for the first time since 2021, the team is eager to turn the page. The season 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, missed four games due to injury and the squad stumbled out of the gate with a 1-5 start, forcing them into a perpetual catch‑up mode. Even after returning to the field, Jackson never quite recaptured the electrifying, game‑breaking form that defined his early years. Nevertheless, analysts and teammates alike predict a resurgence as Baltimore gears up for another Super Bowl push this September. "They're going to see a different version this year," Flowers told Sky Sports.
"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’ll 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, posting 86 receptions for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Jackson’s passing numbers were respectable—192 completions on 302 attempts for a 63.6 percent completion rate, 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions—but his rushing production dipped to a career‑low 349 yards, a stark contrast to the usual 700‑plus yards he typically generates. Despite the dip, Jackson remains one of the NFL’s marquee faces and a cornerstone of the Ravens’ championship aspirations.
He has shed early‑career doubts and emerged as a versatile, elite play‑caller. Flowers praised Jackson’s consistency and authenticity, noting, "He stayed true to himself. He doesn’t change for anybody or anything in his life.
He’s always going to be him, and you can count on that. Consistency, being yourself, confidence, and putting God first—that’s what makes him unstoppable." For younger teammates like second‑year receiver LaJohntay Wester, adapting to Jackson’s wizardry is still a marvel. "It’s crazy," Wester said.
"I saw him scramble in practice and put the ball behind his back like he was playing basketball. Quarterback coaches tell you not to do that, but it’s Lamar Jackson—Lamarvelous.
He does those things every day in practice, not just on Sundays." The offseason also brought a seismic shift on the coaching side. After 18 seasons, head coach John Harbaugh departed, and former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter stepped in as the new head coach.
Flowers described the change as an "opportunity for everybody" to prove themselves under a fresh philosophy. "He brings energy.
Everybody wants to play. We’re excited to start fresh and chase the same goal—a Super Bowl." Wester echoed that sentiment, noting that Minter’s arrival injected the energy the Ravens lacked last year. "Everyone is on board, we have a good plan," he said. The Ravens have been knocking on the Super Bowl door for several years, falling short in the divisional round three times since 2019 and losing an AFC Championship to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2023 season.
Yet the franchise remains a top contender in the fiercely competitive AFC, especially as the league’s balance of power shifts away from the Chiefs’ dominance. With Jackson at the helm and a refreshed coaching staff, Baltimore expects to be a front‑runner once again in 2026. Flowers highlighted the motivational effect of playing alongside elite talent. "If you look around, you see Derrick Henry, then you see Lamar Jackson, and you think, ‘I have to grind, I have to put my best foot forward.’" Being surrounded by such players pushes each individual to become the best version of themselves.
For Wester, the chance to learn from veterans is a catalyst for personal growth. Drafted in the sixth round out of Colorado, he spent most of his rookie year returning kicks, but now he aspires to contribute more on offense.
"I’m a young guy, and seeing Zay, Derrick, Lamar work hard every day makes me want to work even harder to impress them," he said. "These guys are legends in my city.
Being around them makes you want to be on point and keep your ducks in a row." Looking ahead, the Ravens’ revamped roster, combined with a healthier, more confident Jackson, suggests a season where the quarterback’s dual‑threat capabilities could finally be fully unleashed. The new coaching scheme under Minter emphasizes versatility and aggressive play‑calling, which aligns perfectly with Jackson’s skill set.
If he can stay injury‑free and regain his rushing explosiveness while continuing to refine his passing, Baltimore could once again be a serious contender for the Lombardi Trophy. In summary, the Ravens enter the new campaign with a rejuvenated mindset, a fresh coaching philosophy, and a quarterback eager to rewrite his narrative. As Flowers put it, "You’ll see a new version of everybody, real soon," and for fans of Lamar Jackson, that promise may translate into some of the most thrilling football the league has seen in years.