The upcoming NFL season promises to showcase a rejuvenated 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 to turn the page.
The team finished 8-9, ceding the AFC North title to the Pittsburgh Steelers with a decisive loss in the final week. That season was marred by injuries, including a four‑game absence for two‑time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, which contributed to a rough 1‑5 start and forced the Ravens into a perpetual catch‑up mode.
Even when Jackson returned, he never quite displayed the electrifying, game‑breaking form that made him a household name. Yet analysts and insiders believe that the upcoming season will see him return stronger than ever as Baltimore re‑enters its Super Bowl pursuit this September. "They’re going to see a different version this year," wide receiver Zay 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 emerged as Jackson’s most reliable target, leading the Ravens last season with 86 receptions for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns. His confidence in the quarterback’s abilities is evident in his remarks about Jackson’s consistency and character.
"He stayed true to himself. He doesn’t change for anybody," Flowers said.
"He’s always going to be him, and you can count on that. Consistency, being yourself, having confidence, and putting God first—that’s a formula that always wins.
That’s what he has." Jackson’s statistical line from the previous year reflects a mixed performance. He completed 192 of 302 passes, a 63.6 percent completion rate, for 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions. On the ground, however, he recorded a career‑low 349 rushing yards, a stark contrast to his usual output of well over 600 yards per season.
Despite the dip, Jackson remains one of the NFL’s marquee faces and a cornerstone of a team that has repeatedly positioned itself as a Super Bowl contender. His journey from a draft‑day skeptic to a dominant, versatile playmaker underscores his resilience and adaptability. The Ravens’ offseason has been defined by significant change. 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. "It’s a new opportunity for everybody. Those who didn’t get a chance to prove themselves under Coach Harbaugh now have a fresh start with Coach Minter. You can feel that energy in the room.
He brings energy, everybody wants to play, and we’re all excited to start fresh and chase the same goal—a Super Bowl." Teammate LaJohntay Wester, a second‑year wide receiver and return specialist, echoed the sentiment. "I’m very excited. New coaching staff, Coach Minter, he’s bringing a new energy into the building.
I feel that’s what the Ravens were missing last year, and we have it this year. Everybody is on board, we have a good plan for us," Wester said.
The Ravens have a history of near‑misses in the postseason, falling 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 the talent pool remains deep, and the team is determined to break through the Chiefs’ recent dominance in the AFC. Flowers summed up the competitive atmosphere: "If you look around, you see Derrick Henry, then you look to your right and see Lamar Jackson, and you think, ‘I have to grind, I have to put my best foot forward.’ It only makes you better when you’re surrounded by great players; it pushes you to be the best version of yourself." Jackson’s on‑field wizardry continues to amaze his teammates. Wester recalled a practice moment where Jackson scrambled and tucked the ball behind his back, likening it to a basketball move.
"That’s something quarterbacks are not supposed to do, but it’s Lamar Jackson—it’s Lamarvelous. It’s just amazing.
He does that stuff in practice all week, not just on Sundays," Wester said. Beyond the immediate impact on the field, the offseason changes have opened doors for younger players like Wester, who entered the league as a sixth‑round pick from Colorado and spent most of his rookie year as a returner.
"I’m a young guy, and seeing guys like Zay, Derrick Henry, Lamar every day going hard makes me want to work even harder to impress them," he explained. "These guys are legends from my city.
Being around them makes you want to be on point and have your ducks in a row." Looking ahead to the 2026 season, the Ravens are poised to reassert themselves as a premier AFC contender. With a healthier, more confident Jackson, a revitalized coaching staff, and a roster eager to seize new opportunities, the team hopes to finally translate its regular‑season success into a championship run. The combination of Jackson’s dual‑threat ability, Flowers’ reliable hands, and the fresh strategic vision of Coach Minter could well be the catalyst the Ravens need to knock on the Super Bowl door once again.
In summary, the message from Baltimore’s locker room is clear: Lamar Jackson is returning not just healed, but transformed. The new system, the new coach, and the renewed energy among teammates all point toward a season where the quarterback’s best version will finally be on full display, and the Ravens will be ready to chase that elusive Lombardi Trophy with renewed vigor.