In Lamar Jackson’s first meeting with Baltimore reporters since last year’s AFC Championship game, his weight was the dominant topic of conversation.
Jackson was peppered with eight questions about his trimmer figure, which is noticeable at the start of Organized Team Activities this week.
There’s a reason why his teammates are saying, even somewhat facetiously, that they didn’t recognize the two-time MVP when they got back together this offseason. Jackson declined to say what he currently weighs. Earlier this month, he told Complex Sports that he’s down to 205 pounds – a 25-pound loss from 2022 and 10 pounds since last season.
Jackson said Wednesday that he doesn’t know how many pounds he lost, adding that he’s at “two-something” hundred pounds right now.
“I’ll say it was important enough to be able to move around a little bit extra, that’s all,” Jackson said. “Just so I can be more agile and be able to move more.”
Jackson said he doesn’t have a target weight he wants to play at this season (“Just under 230”).
He also declined to reveal how he lost so much weight, joking “Not to offend anyone, but you’re going to have to pay for that.”
Asked if he does now feel more agile, Jackson responded with a “heck yeah.”
“I feel great,” Jackson said. “It’s been so long [since feeling this agile]. We had COVID that happened to us; it slowed us down a little. But I feel great now. I feel great.”
Jackson took off on one long run during Wednesday’s practice, but it’s hard to gauge whether, or how much, quicker he is compared to previous seasons. His teammates say he looks fast to them, but he’s always looked fast.
If he stays at 205 pounds, Jackson would be lighter than almost every starting quarterback in recent decades, and none that played that low ran as much as Jackson. But Jackson has never fretted about his durability.
“We sacrifice our body each and every game [and] practices,” he said. “I believe it really doesn’t matter about the weight.”
Ravens Strength & Conditioning Coordinator Scott Elliott said at the start of the offseason program that the Ravens intend to “add lean muscle” on top of his frame, but that Jackson is in “great shape.”
Head Coach John Harbaugh echoed those sentiments Wednesday, saying the Ravens don’t have a target weight for Jackson.
“I mean, it’s fine. I think that’s Lamar. He’s a pro. He knows what he’s doing. He knows where he wants to be with that,” Harbaugh said. “My concern is that he’s in shape, best shape of his life, and he’s working toward that. He’s ready football-wise, all the details that go with that – mentally, physically, spiritually ready to go. That’s kind of what I think about. I know he talks to the strength and conditioning people. He’s got his own people. He talks to [director of sports nutrition] Sarah [Snyder] all the time. He’s a pro. He knows what he’s doing.”