The Ravens’ ingenious MVP, Lamar Jackson, is one of the most valuable NFL players with a two-time first-team All-Pro record. Known for having a dual-threat play style, Jackson has scored 2,112 passing attempts with 29 rushing touchdowns. However, the star QB has been absent in most of the teams’ practices, as is evident from this week. 

Jackson is the only starting offensive player in Baltimore who isn’t showing up for the OTAs. While it’s optional to attend, his absence does raise questions among fans. And to add to that, he’s also lost a hefty amount to contract triggers. So, why has Jackson been so dramatically left out?

MVP Lamar Jackson’s $750k vanishing act leaves fans baffled!

At the age of 27, Lamar Jackson became the youngest NFL MVP since the merger last season. With 3,678 passing yards and a 67.2 completion percentage, he achieved career highs and helped the Ravens win 13-4—the best record in the league. However, as OTAs roll in, the star player is nowhere to be found!

While Jackson was recently seen working out privately on his IG story, he missed the Baltimore Ravens’ voluntary off-season program, costing him a cool $750k in exercise bonuses. Josh Johnson, a seasoned backup, has taken Jackson’s place as the quarterback of the starting offense. 

As fans were left wondering regarding Jackson’s absence, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh remarked, “It’s this time of year; it’s a voluntary time. It’s really not something that we comment on. We can’t, and that’s just the time of year it is. So I can’t speak for anybody that’s not here.”

After a closer look at the Ravens’ QB 2023 contract, he has $750,000 in annual off-season exercise bonuses. According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, All-Pro QBs must take part in 80% of the offseason exercises to qualify—except for the required minicamp. However, the three-time Pro Bowl winner Jackson missed way too many workouts to be eligible for the offer this year.

In addition, Jackson is in the second year of a $260 million, five-year contract that came with a $72.5 million signing bonus, as per NBC News. Therefore, he won’t likely suffer without the $750,000 workout check. Next week, the Ravens will have their last OTAs. The required minicamp for Baltimore is set for June 11–13.

Ravens’ QB off-field adventures and on-field transformations 

Despite the $750k loss from missing OTAs, Jackson continues to participate in on-field activities. As of 2024, his salary will be $31.75 million instead of $32.5 million due to his absence from the OTAs. Even if his overall income may not seem to be much impacted, losing $750,000 is still a sizable sum. However, given how he’s handled things, perhaps this is just a choice he made for himself. 

Ravens QB is going around, attending the Coca-Cola 600 race of NASCAR on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina—a little more than a week after attending the Preakness Stakes. There was a lot of love for the two-time and current MVP at the function. 

Despite the star QB’s disappearance from the OTAs, the Ravens are still assured of success. However, the bigger question stands still: Will Jackson’s absence affect his execution and the team’s dynamics, or is it a smart move to ensure peak health for the upcoming season? Let time reveal how this gamble plays out on the field.