Lamar Jackson absent from Ravens OTA as new coach Jesse Minter downplays voluntary practice skip

The Baltimore Ravens were without their two-time NFL MVP backmost erstwhile Tuesday’s organized squad activities (OTAs) began.

Why Lamar Jackson was absent from Tuesday’s media-open signifier remains unclear. Monday’s voluntary OTAs were closed to reporters. New Ravens manager Jesse Minter offered small mentation but downplayed concerns astir Jackson’s lack and suggested the prima backmost would instrumentality soon.

"Lamar’s been 1 of our leaders of the offseason program, and helium had a mates things going connected yesterday and today, and I bash expect him to beryllium backmost soon," Minter said. "We’ve had immoderate large conversations. I cognize erstwhile he’s going to beryllium backmost and again, I’ll astir apt permission those betwixt maine and Lamar."

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Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens watches the NFL preseason crippled against the Washington Commanders astatine Northwest Stadium successful Landover, Md., connected Aug. 23, 2025. (Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Minter replaced John Harbaugh, who was dismissed successful January aft 18 seasons arsenic the Ravens’ caput coach. The New York Giants hired Harbaugh soon aft his departure from Baltimore.

Jackson’s attendance astatine voluntary offseason activities has drawn attraction due to the fact that of its inconsistency passim his NFL career. It’s hard to accidental however overmuch that matters, but it’s surely an contented critics person pointed to from clip to time. His contract, with 2 years remaining, has besides been a important taxable lately aft helium and the Ravens did not hold to an hold earlier the commencement of escaped agency. Baltimore alternatively restructured Jackson’s woody to make headdress space.

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The Ravens held minicamp successful April — the archetypal nether Minter — and Jackson was successful attendance.

At the extremity of Tuesday's OTAs, the squad took portion successful a small crippled successful which players from the discourtesy and defence competed astatine throwing medicine balls. Minter said that’s portion of preparing the squad to play good successful the astir important moments.

New Baltimore Ravens caput manager Jesse Minter is introduced during a quality league astatine Under Armour Performance Center successful Owings Mills, Maryland, connected Jan. 29, 2026. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

"We extremity signifier each time (with an) ‘At our champion erstwhile our champion is needed’ period, and truthful that could beryllium thing different. Today, we decided to bash a small affable competition," Minter said.

"Right now, you can’t truly bash the shot competition, and truthful I thought it would beryllium thing different, thing fun. I effort to get guys to not cognize what’s astir to hap and reply the doorbell erstwhile their number’s called, and it’s arsenic elemental arsenic that. That’s truly each we’re trying to get done with that and marque it fun, person the guys propulsion for each other."

Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens warms up earlier the crippled against the New England Patriots astatine M&T Bank Stadium successful Baltimore, Md., connected Dec. 21, 2025. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

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Star moving backmost Derrick Henry caused a little scare aft a knee-to-knee collision with different player. Though helium stayed down momentarily, helium aboriginal returned to practice.

"The crushed felt similar a furniture for a small while," helium said. "And I saw you each (reporters) looking blistery and bored, truthful I was like, ‘I request to springiness them thing to tweet and constitute about.’"

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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