The upcoming NFL season promises to showcase a newly energized and refined 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 team is eager to turn the page.
The previous year ended with an 8-9 record, capped by a decisive defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final week that cost them the AFC North crown. Jackson, a two‑time MVP, was sidelined for four games due to injury, contributing to a rocky 1‑5 start that forced the Ravens into a perpetual catch‑up mode. Even after returning, he never quite displayed the electrifying, game‑breaking brilliance that defined his earlier seasons. Yet analysts and insiders believe that, with a healthier body and a revamped system, he will emerge stronger and more decisive as Baltimore aims once again for a Super Bowl run 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, 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 expects the entire offense to benefit from the changes.
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 posted a career‑low 349 rushing yards, a stark contrast to the more than 695 yards he had amassed in each of his prior seasons.
Despite the dip, Jackson remains one of the league’s marquee faces and a central figure among the Super Bowl contenders, having overcome early draft skepticism to become a versatile, high‑impact playmaker. "He stayed true to himself.
He doesn’t change for anybody," Flowers said, highlighting the quarterback’s consistency. "He’s always going to be him, and you can count on that. Consistency, being yourself, having confidence, and putting God first—those are the things that keep you winning.
Nothing can beat that, and that’s what he has." For many teammates, especially newer players like second‑year wide receiver LaJohntay Wester, adjusting to Jackson’s unique skill set continues to be a source of awe. "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 usually tell them not to do that, but it’s Lamar Jackson—it’s Lamarvelous." Wester added that witnessing Jackson’s daily work ethic—replicating his Sunday highlights during weekday practices—reinforces the belief that the quarterback is simply being himself, every single day. The offseason also brought a seismic shift in the coaching hierarchy. After 18 seasons at the helm, John Harbaugh departed, and the Ravens appointed former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as head coach. Flowers sees this transition as a chance for everyone to prove themselves anew.
"It’s a new opportunity for everybody," he said. "Players who didn’t get a chance to shine under Coach Harbaugh now have a fresh start with Coach Minter. You can feel that energy in the locker room." Both Flowers and Wester echoed the sentiment, noting that Minter’s arrival injected a much‑needed spark into the organization.
"He brings energy. Everybody wants to play. Everyone is excited to start fresh and chase the same goal— a Super Bowl," Flowers explained. Wester agreed, stating, "The new coaching staff, especially Coach Minter, brings a new energy to the building.
That’s something the Ravens missed last year, and we have it now. Everyone is on board, and we have a solid plan." Historically, the Ravens have been close but not quite there, falling in the Divisional Round three times since 2019 and suffering an AFC Championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2023 season.
Nevertheless, the franchise remains a prominent contender in the fiercely competitive AFC, eager to break the Chiefs’ dominance and reassert itself as a championship force in the 2026 season. Flowers summed up the competitive atmosphere: "If you look around, you see Derrick Henry, then you look to your right and see Lamar Jackson. It makes you want to grind harder, put your best foot forward.
Great teammates push you to become the best version of yourself." For younger players like Wester, the revamped environment offers additional opportunities. Drafted in the sixth round out of Colorado, he spent most of his rookie year as a return specialist.
Now, surrounded by veterans such as Zay Flowers, Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson, he feels motivated to elevate his game. "I’m a young guy, so seeing guys like Zay, Derrick, Lamar every day working hard makes me want to work even harder to impress them," he said. "They’re legends in my city, and being around them makes you want to stay sharp and keep your ducks in a row." In summary, the Ravens head into the new season with a rejuvenated quarterback, a fresh coaching perspective, and a roster hungry for success. If Jackson can stay healthy and adapt to the new system, the team’s aspirations of returning to the Super Bowl appear more attainable than ever.