Why is Lamar Jackson absent from training camp? Ravens issue statement as QB remains sidelined

Baltimore Ravens superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson was absent from the team's latest training camp session. According to the Ravens' X (formerly known as Twitter) account, he remains sidelined with an illness and will not practice on Saturday.

He continues to undergo further evaluation and receive care from our medical team. Ravens fans will hope that the dual-threat star recovers in time and is in playing condition for the upcoming season.

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Lamar Jackson is coming off an MVP season

The Baltimore Ravens icon is the reigning regular season MVP. Jackson won his second Most Valuable Player Award in 2023 after leading his franchise to the best regular-season record in the NFL.

Jackson was electric, putting up 3,678 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns and just seven interceptions. He also reminded the league of his dual-threat ability by adding 821 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.

Lamar Jackson won the MVP award with significantly higher votes than the second-placed Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys. However, Jackson came up short in his quest to win his first Super Bowl ring.

He and the Ravens lost to eventual champions, the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs, in the 2023 AFC Championship Game.

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What to expect from Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in 2024?

Expect Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens to be their typically impressive selves in 2024. Lamar Jackson enters the season as the defending MVP and is looking to make it back-to-back MVP wins, a feat that has yet to be achieved since Aaron Rodgers did so while with the Green Bay Packers.

The John Harbaugh-coached Baltimore Ravens will aim for another solid regular season, and, most importantly, a flawless postseason. The Ravens seem to have cracked the regular-season code, typically being formidable opponents in a stacked AFC.

However, they regularly need to impress during the playoffs. The goal for Lamar Jackson, John Harbaugh and Co. is to finally banish their choking tendencies and reach their first Super Bowl since XLVII.

The journey starts with a Week 1 trip against the Kansas City Chiefs. Ravens fans will hope that their heroes can lay down an early marker against Patrick Mahomes and Co.