Last season, Lamar Jackson had to play at an MVP-like level to keep the Baltimore Ravens in the game.
The best example is his 442-yard passing game against the Indianapolis Colts.
The Louisville alumnus threw four touchdowns in that game but needed overtime to defeat the Colts.
Eventually, his versatility became his downfall after missing five games due to an ankle injury.
Jackson finished the season with 2,882 yards and 16 passing touchdowns.
However, his ability to run with the football makes him dangerous.
The league hasn’t figured him out given he collected 767 rushing yards, and he could have had another 1,000-yard rushing season if not for his injury.
But to further highlight the Ravens’ dependence on the former league MVP, Football Outsiders’ Aaron Schatz shared a fascinating stat.
Totally random NFL stat: The average NFL team ran 22 RB screens last season. The Baltimore #Ravens ran 2. TWO!
— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@FO_ASchatz) April 20, 2022
Schatz tweeted, “The average NFL team ran 22 RB screens last season. The Baltimore #Ravens ran 2. TWO!”
That Baltimore ran two running back screens paints a clear picture of Jackson’s importance to the squad.
But in hindsight, being heavily reliant on him took a toll on his body.
A Different Scenario In 2022
Jackson had to carry his team because of injuries to their other key players.
Losing J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards in the offseason affected their running game.
Devonta Freeman and Latavius Murray did reasonably well, but not at Dobbins’ and Edwards’s level in 2020.
Getting both of them back should ease the burden on Jackson.
He can still contribute in the running game, but not to the point that he’s the only one who could make things happen.
Reducing his workload will also help him stay away from injuries, especially now that he is up for a contract extension.
NEXT: Ravens Officially Return To Work To Begin The 2022 Season