The upcoming NFL season promises to showcase a rejuvenated Lamar Jackson, according to his Baltimore Ravens teammate Zay Flowers, who insists the quarterback is entering the league with a new edge. After a disappointing 2023 campaign that saw the Ravens miss the playoffs for the first time since 2021, the team is eager to turn the page.
The previous year ended in an 8-9 record, capped by a crushing defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final week that handed the AFC North title to their rivals. 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 forced them into a perpetual catch‑up mode.
Even once he returned to the field, his performance never quite matched the electrifying, game‑breaking style that made him a household name. Yet the consensus among insiders is that he will emerge stronger, healthier, and more focused as Baltimore launches its Super Bowl quest 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'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, leading the Ravens last season with 86 receptions for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns. His confidence in the quarterback’s potential is palpable, and he believes the upcoming season will highlight a version of Jackson that fans have yet to witness. Jackson's 2023 statistics illustrate a mixed picture: he completed 192 of 302 passes for a 63.6 percent completion rate, amassing 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
However, his rushing output dropped to a career‑low 349 yards, a stark contrast to the more than 695 yards he has consistently produced in prior years. Despite the dip, Jackson remains one of the NFL’s marquee faces and a cornerstone of any Super Bowl conversation. His journey from a draft‑day underdog to a versatile, dual‑threat playmaker underscores his resilience and adaptability.
Flowers praised Jackson’s unwavering self‑belief, noting that the quarterback never changes his approach for external pressures. "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, confidence, and putting God first—those are the things that keep him winning. Nothing can beat that mindset." For younger teammates like second‑year wide receiver and return specialist LaJohntay Wester, witnessing Jackson’s improvisational brilliance remains awe‑inspiring.
Wester recalled a practice moment where Jackson scrambled and tucked the ball behind his back as if playing basketball—a move typically discouraged by quarterback coaches. "It's Lamarvelous," Wester laughed, emphasizing that the quarterback’s creativity extends beyond game day and permeates every drill. The offseason also ushered in a seismic shift on the coaching front.
After 18 seasons, longtime head coach John Harbaugh departed, and the Ravens appointed former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as the new leader. Flowers described the transition as a fresh opportunity for players who felt limited under the previous regime. "Everyone who didn’t get a chance to prove themselves under Coach Harbaugh now has a new shot with Jesse Minter.
You can feel that energy in the room," he said. Minter’s arrival has injected optimism throughout the locker room. Both Flowers and Wester echoed the sentiment, noting that the new staff brings a revitalized energy that was missing last year. "He brings energy.
Everybody wants to play. Everybody is super excited to get that opportunity to just start fresh and push for the same goal we all want: a Super Bowl," Flowers added. Wester agreed, stating, "The new coaching staff, especially Coach Minter, is giving us a vibe the Ravens lacked last season. Everyone is on board, and we have a solid plan moving forward." Historically, the Ravens have been close but not quite there, falling in the Divisional Round three times since 2019 and suffering a recent AFC Championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Yet the franchise remains a dominant force in the AFC, consistently fielding a roster capable of challenging the Chiefs' reign. With Jackson at the helm and a rejuvenated coaching staff, expectations are high that Baltimore will re‑emerge as a front‑runner in the 2026 season. Flowers also highlighted the motivational impact of playing alongside elite talent. "If you look around, you see Derrick Henry, then you look to your right and see Lamar Jackson, and you think, ‘I’ve got to grind, I’ve got to put my best foot forward,’" he said.
The presence of such high‑caliber players pushes each individual to elevate their own performance. For Wester, the chance to learn from veterans like Zay Flowers, Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson fuels his own ambition. Drafted in the sixth round out of Colorado, Wester spent most of his rookie year as a return specialist, but the new environment promises greater involvement. "I'm a young guy, so seeing guys like Zay, Derrick, Lamar every day going hard makes me want to work even harder to impress them," he explained.
"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 next NFL season with a revitalized quarterback, a refreshed coaching philosophy, and a roster hungry for redemption. Jackson’s health and renewed mindset, combined with the leadership of Flowers and the emerging confidence of players like Wester, set the stage for a potentially transformative campaign. If the team can harness the energy described by its players and translate it onto the field, Baltimore could very well knock on the Super Bowl door once again, this time with a version of Lamar Jackson that feels both familiar and strikingly new.