Lamar Jackson isn’t afraid to call out his critics with subtle jabs. That’s what is fun about him.
As Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh awarded Jackson with the game ball in the locker room last Sunday, Jackson learned he’d earned a perfect passer rating during the team’s 59-10 win over the Miami Dolphins. The team cheered on Jackson, who pretended to carry the ball. He said: “Running back. Running back.”
It was a reference to what he said in the press conference that followed. A reporter asked him if he felt like he proved he could throw the ball.
“Not bad for a running back,” Jackson said in a one-liner that absolutely owned his critics (just hours after a performance in which he also owned his critics).
Jackson finished the game with an 85 completion percentage, 324 passing yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions for a passer rating of 158.3. While he was an outstanding runner in college and in his rookie season, he has just three rushes for six yards in his first outing in 2019. He didn’t need to run the ball — he was stellar as a passer. The blowout was so severe that he came out of the game early.
After Jackson faced unfair criticism for his ability to throw the ball, he appears to be on the verge of a breakout season. And if he keeps reveling in his success — while poking fun at the haters — it should be fun to watch on and off the field.
