Drew Brees has done just that throughout his long career. Same goes for Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger. What about Tom Brady? He turned it into his unique lifestyle and created branded nutrition and products.
They bulked up physically and made tweaks as their careers progressed and injuries occurred.
Lamar Jackson can now be added to that list after the Baltimore Ravens quarterback showed off a much slimmer physique during organized team activities on Wednesday.
Jackson did not disclose his specific weight, but a source close to the quarterback told Yahoo Sports that Jackson is “at least” 10 pounds down from the end of the 2023 season and “significantly” down from his career-high weight in 2022. The source did not disclose Jackson's specific weight in 2022 but said he peaked “between 230 and 240 pounds” during the calendar year. [pounds]Jackson's weight at the University of Louisville fluctuated between 205 and 215 pounds between his sophomore and junior seasons. He weighed 216 pounds at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine. was.
“I'm not really sure how many pounds I've lost,” Jackson said Wednesday. “I'm like two–[hundred] I haven't done anything for now. But it was important enough for me to be able to move around a little bit, that's all. ”
He added that his goal weight is under 230 pounds, and that a slimmer build will “make me more agile and allow me to move around more.”
This adjustment seems counterintuitive from a damage absorption standpoint, but it makes sense when compared to the offensive changes coordinator Todd Monken made last season. Monken's offense moves away from former coordinator Greg Roman's deliberate, ferocious running game and adopts a more fast-paced style that relies heavily on Jackson leading rushing attack decisions and making adjustments at the line of scrimmage. demanded. In the process, it became increasingly clear that larger body size also meant that runners were less agile, leading to them absorbing more damage.
The difference now is that, in theory, Jackson should be more elusive when running the ball and navigating the pocket while simultaneously pushing for a higher-tempo scheme and not wear out late in games. It also puts Jackson closer to the frame he was in in 2019, when he had arguably the best season of his career in terms of production and wrapped up the first of his two MVP seasons.
It's worth noting that Jackson is only 27, but entering his seventh year in the league. This is roughly the same time that veteran NFL quarterbacks begin to adjust their physique in the prime of their careers. Brees did so with the New Orleans Saints, becoming a leaner player by the time he entered his 30s, maximizing his agility. Rodgers also began to change physically toward his prime, initially focusing on building his core, then becoming leaner and stronger in his mid-to-late 30s. Brady built muscle in his prime, then began to aim for a stronger, leaner physique, emphasizing flexibility over pure strength. Even Roethlisberger, who was famous for getting fitter as the seasons went on, got leaner in his later years, which helped him squeeze out as much movement as he could in his later years.
For Jackson to reach this path now in Baltimore speaks to some of the same commitment as any other quarterback, to change and adapt his body as he sees fit. It shows his desire to do so. And this was something he took upon himself. It wasn't a directive from the Ravens or a product of inside opinion.
“I think that's Lamar. He's a pro,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said of Jackson's weight loss efforts. “He knows what he's doing. He knows how far he wants to go with weight loss. My concern is that he's going to get in shape and be in the best shape of his life and work towards that.” I mean he's ready football-wise, he's ready mentally, physically, mentally for all the details that come with it. I know he's talking to the strength and conditioning guys. He has his own guys. [director of sports nutrition] Sara [Snyder] Always. He's a professional. He knows what he's doing.”
With the additions of veteran running back Derrick Henry and rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker, it remains to be seen how that ultimately translates into the Ravens' offense. For now, the focus is on coordinator continuity, Jackson's personal adjustments, the growth of wide receiver Zay Flowers, and Henry in the backfield. This seems like the most likely path to a bowl berth.
Asked Wednesday how long it took him to get over that loss, Jackson said, “Now.”
“[It] “Losing before the Super Bowl hurt more than actually being in it, because we worked so hard for 17 weeks and then we had a little playoff game on top of that and then we play a game on the road and lose,” Jackson said. “We didn't actually score any points, but [when] We scored 30 points against a crazy team with a great defense.Don't get me wrong, that's great defense too. [in Kansas City]but [we faced] “Top-ranked defense. We just have to finish. We have to move the ball the right way and find ways to score. Our defense worked hard all night.”
For a team that fell short, some of that change starts now with offseason workouts, then a full-team minicamp and then the heat of training camp. Jackson has started on his own a little earlier and a little differently than expected, changing some of the physical parameters. The Ravens will have to see if he can replicate what other highly successful quarterbacks have done, not just those who won Super Bowls but also played into their late 30s or beyond.
