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 to turn the page.
The team finished 8-9, capped off by a crushing defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final week that handed the AFC North crown to their rivals. That loss, combined with a shaky 1-5 start, left the Ravens scrambling for momentum. Jackson, a two‑time MVP, was sidelined for four games due to injury, and even when he returned his play never quite matched the electrifying, game‑breaking style that made him a household name. Nevertheless, analysts and insiders believe that a healthier, more focused Jackson will be a catalyst for Baltimore's renewed 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 weapon, leading the Ravens last season with 86 receptions for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns. His confidence in the quarterback’s abilities is evident, and he believes the upcoming season will be a turning point for the entire offense. Jackson’s 2023 statistics illustrate a mixed picture. 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 the more than 1,000 rushing yards he typically posts each year. Despite the dip, Jackson remains one of the NFL’s most recognizable faces and a key component of any team with Super Bowl aspirations. He has overcome early‑career doubts about his draft pedigree to become one of the league’s most versatile and dynamic play‑callers.
"He stayed true to himself. He doesn’t change for anybody," Flowers said, emphasizing the quarterback’s consistency and self‑belief.
"He’s always going to be him and you can count on that. Consistency, being yourself, confidence, and putting God first—that’s a winning formula. Nothing can beat that, and that’s what he has." For younger teammates like second‑year wide receiver LaJohntay Wester, witnessing Jackson’s improvisational brilliance remains awe‑inspiring.
"It’s crazy," Wester remarked. "Some of the things he does are just unreal. I saw him scramble in practice last year and put the ball behind his back like he was playing basketball. Quarterback coaches tell them ‘that’s not something you do,’ but it’s Lamar Jackson—it’s ‘Lamarvelous.’" Wester added that seeing Jackson replicate his Sunday magic during weekday practices underscores the quarterback’s relentless work ethic.
"He’s just being him at the end of the day," Wester said. The offseason also brought a seismic shift in the coaching staff. After 18 seasons at the helm, John Harbaugh departed, making way for former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
The new regime promises a fresh perspective and renewed energy across the roster. "It’s a new opportunity for everybody," Flowers explained. "Players who didn’t get a chance to prove themselves under Coach Harbaugh now have a fresh slate with Jesse Minter. You can feel that energy in the room.
He brings energy, everyone wants to play, and we’re all excited to start fresh and chase the same goal—a Super Bowl." Both Flowers and Wester echoed the sentiment, noting that Minter’s arrival injects the kind of enthusiasm the Ravens felt was missing last season. Wester said, "The new coaching staff, Coach Minter, is bringing a new energy into the building. It’s something the Ravens lacked last year, and we’ve got it this year. Everybody is on board, and we have a solid plan." Historically, the Ravens have been perennial contenders, reaching the Divisional Round three times since 2019 and falling short in the AFC Championship to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2023 season.
Their roster, featuring stars like Derrick Henry alongside Jackson, positions them as a formidable force in the AFC, especially as the league looks beyond the Chiefs’ recent dominance. Flowers summed up the competitive environment: "If you look around, you see Derrick Henry, then you look to your right and see Lamar Jackson.
It pushes you to grind, to put your best foot forward. Great players around you make you better. It forces you to be the best version of yourself." For younger players like Wester, the presence of established veterans is a powerful motivator. Drafted in the sixth round out of Colorado, Wester has primarily contributed as a return specialist, but he sees the upcoming season as a chance to expand his role.
"I’m a young guy, and seeing guys like Zay, Derrick Henry, and 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 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 head into the 2024 season with a revitalized offensive leader, a new coaching philosophy, and a roster hungry for redemption. Lamar Jackson’s health and renewed confidence, combined with the fresh energy injected by Coach Minter and the unwavering support of teammates like Zay Flowers and LaJohntay Wester, set the stage for what could be the most compelling chapter of Jackson’s career yet.
The team aims not only to return to the playoffs but to make a serious run at the Lombardi Trophy, turning the promise of a "fresh start" into tangible success on the field.