Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers says the upcoming NFL season will showcase a newly energized Lamar Jackson, a version of the quarterback who looks poised to break out of last year's slump and lead the team back into contention. The Ravens concluded the 2023 campaign with an 8-9 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021 after a crushing loss 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 squad stumbled out of the gate with a 1-5 start that forced them into a perpetual catch‑up mode. Even after returning to the field, Jackson never seemed to recapture the electrifying, game‑changing form that made him a household name. Yet analysts and teammates alike believe the quarterback is on the cusp of a resurgence as Baltimore gears up for a 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'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. While the NFL schedule on Sky Sports offers live games for fans, the real story off the field is the transformation of the Ravens' offensive identity. Jackson's 2023 statistics tell a mixed tale: he completed 192 of 302 attempts (a 63.6% completion rate) for 2,549 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions. However, his rushing production dipped to a career‑low 349 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 cornerstone of a roster that consistently vies for the Super Bowl. He has shed early‑career draft‑day doubts to become one of football's most versatile and dynamic playmakers. "He stayed true to himself.
He doesn't change for nobody," Flowers emphasized when describing Jackson's character. "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 you win.
There's nothing that can beat that, and that's what he has." Over the past three years, Flowers has grown accustomed to Jackson's wizardry, while younger teammates like second‑year receiver LaJohntay Wester are still in awe of the quarterback's improvisational brilliance. "It's crazy," Wester said. "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 you that's not allowed, but it's Lamar Jackson—it's Lamarvelous. Seeing him execute those moves every day, not just on Sundays, shows he's just being himself." The offseason also brought a seismic shift in Baltimore's coaching hierarchy. After 18 seasons at the helm, John Harbaugh stepped down, and the Ravens hired former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as the new head coach.
Flowers described the transition as a breath of fresh air: "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 the energy in the room. He brings energy, everyone wants to play, and we're all excited to start anew and chase the same goal—a Super Bowl." Both Flowers and Wester echoed the sentiment, noting that Minter's arrival injected the missing energy the team lacked last season.
Wester added, "The new coaching staff, especially Coach Minter, is bringing a new energy into the building. It was something the Ravens needed, and we have it now. Everyone is on board with a solid plan." The Ravens have been knocking on the Super Bowl door for several years, reaching the Divisional Round three times since 2019 and falling short in the AFC Championship to the Kansas City Chiefs at the end of the 2023 season.
Their roster, anchored by Jackson's dual‑threat ability, Derrick Henry's power running, and a deep receiving corps, positions them as a serious contender in a competitive AFC that is eager to dethrone the Chiefs' dominance. Flowers summed up the motivation: "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." For younger players like Wester, the new environment offers a platform to grow. Drafted in the sixth round out of Colorado, Wester spent most of his rookie year returning kicks, but the revamped coaching philosophy promises more opportunities. "I'm a young guy, and seeing guys like Zay, Derrick, Lamar work hard every day makes me want to work even harder to impress them," he said. "They're legends in my city, and being around them forces you to stay on point and keep your ducks in a row." Looking ahead, the Ravens' revamped offensive scheme under Minter is expected to emphasize Jackson's strengths while addressing the inconsistencies that plagued the previous season.
Analysts predict a more balanced attack that blends Jackson's rushing prowess with a revitalized passing game, leveraging Flowers' route‑running precision and Wester's emerging skill set. The team aims to improve its early‑season performance, avoid the 1‑5 start that set them back, and secure the AFC North title.
In summary, the combination of a healthy, self‑confident Lamar Jackson, a rejuvenated coaching staff, and a motivated group of receivers sets the stage for what could be the best iteration of Jackson's career yet. The Ravens are poised to turn the lessons of last year into a springboard for success, and fans can anticipate a season where Jackson's fresh start translates into a fresh wave of victories, potentially culminating in another deep playoff run and, perhaps, a long‑awaited Super Bowl appearance.