After a whirlwind of a 2022 season ridden with injury and a crazy offseason with rumors about Lamar Jackson wanting to get traded out of Baltimore, we have made it to the 2023 NFL season. The Baltimore Ravens look to have a healthy Lamar Jackson for all 17 games of the season for the first time since his 2019 MVP campaign. But just in case, the Ravens still have Tyler Huntley and Anthony Brown on the roster.
The Ravens have also signed veteran journeyman Josh Johnson for a third stint with the team. Johnson’s previous two times with the Ravens were in 2016 and 2021, which helped diversify the quarterback totem pole for the team.
Injury From Last Season
Ravens QB Tyler Huntley (2) – Photo by Julio Cortez/AP
Jackson played in 12 games last season before going down with a knee injury during the Raven’s 10-9 victory over the Denver Broncos on Dec. 4, 2022. This injury ultimately sidelined Jackson for the remainder of that season.
The Ravens turned to Tyler Huntley to fill the void left while Jackson recovered. He would help the Ravens finish the 2022 season with a 10-7 record and secure a spot in the playoffs before losing to the Cincinnati Bengals. Huntley also made it to the Pro Bowl, replacing an injured Josh Allen at the time.
Huntley would leave a week 14 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a concussion despite the Ravens winning on the road 16-14. Huntley was replaced by Anthony Brown at the time. Huntley would clear concussion protocols a few days later and resume playing for the season until he went down with a shoulder injury giving Brown the start to finish the season.
The Ravens 2023 Expectations for Jackson
Jackson is coming off signing his new five-year $260 million contract as well as taking the helm to a new-look and pass-friendly offense being schemed by form Georgia Bulldogs offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
If Jackson goes down with another injury during the season, Huntley is available and ready to take action just in case. If Huntley goes down, then the team could potentially turn to third and fourth-stringers Johnson or Brown.
Working in Jackson’s favor is a more diverse cast of wide receivers to aid the passing game, as well as tight ends Mark Andrews, Isiah Likey, and Charlier Kolar rounding up the deep field possibilities for 2023.
Why 2023 will be Better for Jackson
2023 looks to be much better for the 2019 MVP not only with the additions at wide receiver, but they’ve also continued to build up the offensive line. The Ravens drafted Oregon’s Malesala Aumave-Lulu and University of Southern California’s Andrew Vorhees with the 199th and 229th picks, respectively.
The Ravens have historically had a great offensive line, and a strong offensive line keeps any quarterback protected from opposing defenses no matter what.
Along with the offensive line, Jackson has plenty of new passing weapons to throw to, like Odell Beckham Jr., Nelson Agholor, and Zay Flowers, to name a few, which keeps the opposing defenses in check with a new passing attack provided by offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
No one should ignore Jackson’s running, either. Despite the season-ending knee injury, Jackson still had 112 rushing yards on 764 attempts and scored three rushing touchdowns.
Jackson’s running is something that has made him one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the league thus far. But a new passing game will help Jackson potentially become a front-runner for the Most Valuable Player award.
Jackson will also have more reign on the offense by being given the keys to the offense as well as expecting more no-huddle looks on the field, making for faster plays to occur.
How Lamar Might Regress in 2023
Despite the newly loaded firepower on offense, there is a possibility the Ravens can struggle in 2023.
The offensive line did take a hit during the offseason when Ben Powers left the Ravens to join the Denver Broncos in free agency. Without a strong offensive line, Jackson will get targeted by opposing defensive tackles, linebackers, and cornerbacks.
Even though OBJ is one of the game’s most talented wide receivers, he has a history of antics on the field as well as injuries. If OBJ suffers an injury, it spells disaster for Jackson and the offense.
Jackson has suffered injury setbacks in 2020, 2021, and 2022 which has hurt the Ravens significantly when trying to compete for the AFC North and a playoff spot.
Even if Jackson suffers an injury and is out for a certain amount of time, the Ravens can rely on backup Tyler Huntley. Or if he goes down with an injury, they can turn to career journeyman Josh Johnson or Anthony Brown. If the Ravens make the playoffs in 2023 with Huntley, Brown, or Johnson at the helm, the team could get knocked out in Wildcard Weekend, depending on their opponent.
Overall
Overall, the Ravens will improve from their 2022 campaign if Jackson stays healthy for the season. With a healthy Jackson along with the new-look offense, the Ravens have the potential of winning the AFC North crown from the rival Cincinnati Bengals or making a run to the AFC Championship game and maybe even more.
It all depends on how Jackson performs throughout the season as well as keeping the offensive line healthy.
If all goes well with Jackson, the Ravens will excite many fans across the league!
