Baltimore Ravens coach John Harpo

Lamar Jackson Missing the first week of the Baltimore Ravens’ organized activities, the first time the former NFL quarterback hasn’t attended a Volunteer Spring Drill.

“We’ve come this way many times over the years,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said after training on Wednesday. “I’ll let Lamar speak for himself on that. It’s something he talks about. You can ask him.”

When asked if he was concerned about Jackson losing practice time, Harpo said, “It’s not for me to speak for someone else on this matter. It’s up to him to speak for himself on this.”

Jackson indicated on social media on Tuesday that he was not present for the start of the OTAs, but did not provide a reason for his absence. he is chirp“I can’t wait to go back” with a purple heart and rocket emoji.

Baltimore has eight voluntary practices remaining via the OTA through mid-June. Jackson is only obligated to attend the team’s mandatory small camp, which is scheduled for June 14-16.

“If it was a training camp, it would have been really bad,” Buck Corner Marlon Humphrey She said. “I think as long as the guys are working, no matter where they are, that’s the biggest key. I spoke with Lamar earlier in the off season. He said he’s coming soon.”

crows narrow end Mark Andrews He said he’s spoken to Jackson and knows how hard it is to work away from the facility.

“He’s very excited and very hungry,” Andrews said. “So there’s no need to worry there. I know what he’s doing and we’re all working and doing our work here and getting ready for it. We’ll be ready to go and I’m sure he’ll be ready and show everyone he’s got what he’s got and what kind of hunger he’s in right now.”

Jackson enters his fifth year option, which will pay him $23.016 million this season. The Ravens are expected to mark the franchise on him next season if the two sides cannot reach an extension.

The Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has said repeatedly that the team tried to enter into long-term contract negotiations, but Jackson wasn’t interested in doing so. When asked about holding talks with Jackson earlier this month, DeCosta said “Nothing has really changed on that front.”

Jackson has tried to quash speculation that he is looking to leave Baltimore. In March, he tweeted that he loves crows and cited a “false narrative” that he was considering leaving the franchise.

Jackson’s absence comes as Baltimore looks to recover from last place for the first time in 15 years. He’s used to the Ravens attack having played the past three seasons in the offensive coordinator system Greg Roman. But Baltimore has one of the smallest groups of wide receivers in the NFL. None of the 12 receivers are over 25 years old, and none have played more than two seasons in the NFL.

Ravens officials praised Jackson’s training away from the facility. Jackson was throwing wide receivers rashod pitman and James Brusch during private scrolling sessions in Florida and California. He was also training with throwing coach Adam Dido.

“We’re getting great reports,” DeCosta said earlier this month. “We talk to him all the time. We check in with him all the time. We talk to other players. I think – and I think the coach [John Harbaugh] We feel that way – we’re about to have a great year on the offensive.”

Jackson is coming off the toughest season of his four-year career. Last season, he threw the 13 worst interceptions of his career and was sent off 38 times. He missed the last four matches with a right ankle injury. Jackson’s last full practice with the crows was on December 10.

With no Jackson, the only other players on the Ravens roster were Tyler Huntley Rookie Unformed Rookie Anthony Brown.