Creative options sought for Jackson
Team plans to use QB’s skills; back spasms sideline Lewis; Siragusa returns
Ravens rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson will likely be active on game days this season as the team looks for creative ways to use him, coach John Harbaugh said Tuesday on the first day of mandatory minicamp.
Incumbent starter Joe Flacco has easily thrown the best of the four quarterbacks — the group also includes backup candidate Robert Griffin III and Josh Woodrum — in the team’s offseason workouts. So there’s no hint of controversy at the most important position on the field.
But Harbaugh sounds excited at the prospect of playing Flacco and Jackson at the same time in unusual packages.
“This is a little unique. You’ve got the ability to put two quarterbacks on the field at the same time,” he said. “You want to find the way to get the most out of all your guys. Lamar’s going to be on the team. I fully expect him to be active on game day. So gosh, I’d sure like him out there helping. … What options does that create for our offense? That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”
It’s also clear the team’s veterans enjoy watching Jackson, especially when he takes off running.
“It’s been cool just to see the way we can switch things up at quarterback,” linebacker C.J. Mosley said. “[Lamar] is just a natural runner. Once he gets out of the pocket, it’s like watching a young Michael Vick. He’s just amazing to watch.” Harbaugh downplays impact of lost OTA workouts: Harbaugh said little about the penalties the Ravens received last week for The Ravens are planning to have both veteran Joe Flacco (5) and rookie Lamar Jackson active at quarterback on game days when the regular season starts. violating league rules governing contact during offseason workouts.
In a statement last week, Harbaugh said the penalties — which included fines for him and the team and the loss of two OTA workouts — were related to contact during pass coverage drills. He said those rules have proven difficult to teach to younger players.
“Í found out what we did and understand what the reasoning is,” he said Tuesday. ”I think I was pretty clear in the statement what I thought about it. I don’t get into judging all that. They have their reasons for what they do, and that’s their reason. I’m just trying to coach the football team and get us ready to go.”
The Ravens have now been penalized for workout violations three times since 2010. But Harbaugh said the lost workouts won’t affect the team in the long run. Lewis out with back spasms: Projected starting guard Alex Lewis missed the first day of minicamp because of a back spasm he experienced in the weight room, Harbaugh said.
“We’ll be evaluating it,” he said. “I don’t think it’s anything serious, according to our trainers, that would keep him out of training camp or even keep him out for very long. But I didn’t see any reason to bring him out here today.”
Though Harbaugh said the injury was minor, Lewis’ health is of broader interest after the third-year lineman missed 2017 while recovering from shoulder surgery. He also missed extended time during his rookie season because of an ankle injury.
Lewis is expected to start at left guard, but he also worked at center during OTA drills. Nico Siragusa returns to active duty: Second-year guard Nico Siragusa was cleared for full activity on Tuesday, the first time he’s played without restrictions since he tore his ACL, PCL and MCL at the beginning of training camp last season.
“He’s back. He’s practicing, and we’ll see how he develops,” Harbaugh said. “He looks good to me. He’s gotten very strong.”
Siragusa, a fourth-round pick out of San Diego State in 2017, will compete for a backup guard role if healthy. His added power — a trait the Ravens prize in their interior linemen — could be key to that effort.
“Just to single out Nico, he’s been here every day. He’s been in the weight room. He’s been rehabbing the knee. Even through rehabbing the knee, he’s been working on all the other body parts,” Harbaugh said. “I think one thing he needed to do was get stronger, and he did that. Once we get the pads on, it will be real interesting to see what impact that has on him moving people off the ball.” End zone: Second-year linebacker Tyus Bowser intercepted Flacco and returned it nearly the length of the field. “That got your attention, right?” Harbaugh said. “That was a great catch.” … Linebacker Terrell Suggs made his first appearance in an official workout, though he’s been at the team’s training complex for much of the offseason. Suggs looks unusually sleek heading into his 16th NFL season.