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 believe remains unclear. Monday’s voluntary OTAs were closed to reporters. New Ravens coach Jesse Minter offered small mentation but downplayed concerns astir Jackson’s absence and suggested nan prima backmost would return soon.

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

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Lamar Jackson of nan Baltimore Ravens watches nan NFL preseason crippled against nan 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 nan 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 because of its inconsistency passim his NFL career. It’s difficult to opportunity really overmuch that matters, but it’s surely an rumor critics person pointed to from clip to time. His contract, pinch 2 years remaining, has besides been a important taxable lately aft he and nan Ravens did not work together to an hold earlier nan commencement of free agency. Baltimore alternatively restructured Jackson’s woody to create headdress space.

LAMAR JACKSON HITS BACK AT CRITICS WITH FAITHFUL MESSAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

The Ravens held minicamp successful April — nan first nether Minter — and Jackson was successful attendance.

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

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

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

"Right now, you can’t really do nan 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 nan doorbell erstwhile their number’s called, and it’s arsenic elemental arsenic that. That’s really each we’re trying to get done pinch that and make it fun, person nan guys propulsion for each other."

Lamar Jackson of nan Baltimore Ravens warms up earlier nan crippled against nan 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 pinch different player. Though he stayed down momentarily, he later returned to practice.

"The crushed felt for illustration a furniture for a small while," he said. "And I saw you each (reporters) looking basking 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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