OWINGS MILLS, Md. — In his first message to the media since the start of training camp, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson didn’t have much to say about the illness that sidelined him for much of the first week.

“I just have a bug,” Jackson said. “You never know when a bug is going to hit you.”

He had no explanation for the fact that he had missed quite a few training hours and a match in recent years due to illness.

“I never got sick in Louisville,” he said. “But it comes and goes.”

Jackson also was unwilling to discuss a dispute over the No. 8 trademark with Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman.

“We’re going to talk about football,” Jackson said. “That’s outside noise.”

However, Jackson made it clear that he is feeling good again and is excited about the team he is leading. He returned to work Saturday and the offense had one of the best practices of the camp.

The offense had another solid day Monday, closing with some success in the red zone, including a deep throw from Jackson to Zay Flowers, who was a step ahead of safety Marcus Williams in the corner of the end zone.

“I feel great, man,” Jackson said after a 2 1/2-hour workout in hot, humid conditions. “Good to be back, back out with my guys, back out with the coaching staff — good to be back in August. It’s football season.”

Exactly what people want to see 🔥@Lj_era8 Unpleasant @ZayFlowers for 6 ❗ photo.twitter.com/bTE1libRHa

—Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 29, 2024

Jackson’s season got off to a bad start. He began feeling ill during meetings the day before the Ravens’ first training camp practice. The 27-year-old missed the first three practices and then returned for the fourth, but he only stayed on the field for about an hour before walking to the training room looking tired.

He then missed a fourth full training session after an off day. When he returned to the field on Saturday, he looked much more like himself and his energy levels immediately increased.

This is a huge season for Jackson. He has won two MVP awards in his five seasons as a starter, but the one thing he says matters — a Super Bowl — has proven elusive. Jackson, and Baltimore’s offense in particular, have struggled in the playoffs after appearing unstoppable at times during the regular season.

As quarterback, Jackson has taken much of the blame for the team’s shortcomings in the postseason. Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked about it last week. He went on a three-plus-minute defense of Jackson, saying, among other things, that the team’s vision for Jackson is for him to be the greatest quarterback of all time.

Jackson said Monday he appreciated Harbaugh’s confidence, reiterated his belief Tom Brady is the GOAT and said he’s still “on a journey.”

“Patience is the key. Only a few quarterbacks have won a Super Bowl in the last few years,” Jackson said. “A lot of people haven’t won. But I’m focused on me, and I just really want one. I’m focused on what I can control and go from there.”

A Super Bowl has been “the number one box for me since 2018,” he said. “I said that on April 26 — whenever I got drafted — and I meant it. This is the highest level of the game that we play. You’ve got to go out there as a champion, and that’s what I want to be called … a champion. I don’t want to just be called MVP here and there. I want to be a champion.”

GO DEEPER

Ravens coach John Harbaugh unveils grand ‘vision’ for two-time MVP Lamar Jackson

Other thoughts, observations

• The highlight of the one-on-one period was the best-on-best matchup between tight end Mark Andrews and safety Kyle Hamilton. Hamilton pinned Andrews early and then stood in very tight coverage to force an incomplete pass. Hamilton also went against tight end Isaiah Likely twice. Likely caught a quick slant, the top of the route that is undefendable in these drills. He then got behind Hamilton and made a juggling catch in the end zone. Flowers won his two matchups against Damarion Williams.

• While the pads were on for the third straight practice, a period interrupted by Sunday’s day off, Baltimore hasn’t had any live tackling segments. That hasn’t stopped a few defensive players from taking guys down, though. Sophomore inside linebacker Trenton Simpson has been one of the most aggressive players in making stops. He took down Owen Wright on one play and also turned Derrick Henry down for a tackle that looked more like a clothesline.

• The team’s young receivers started camp mostly quietly, but they’ve been on the rise in recent days. Isaiah Washington, an undrafted rookie out of Rutgers, had his best day of the summer, winning both of his one-on-ones against Bump Cooper Jr. and then catching a touchdown from Josh Johnson in the red zone. Dayton Wade, an undrafted rookie out of Ole Miss, went 1-for-2 in his one-on-ones with first-round cornerback Nate Wiggins. He then scored a touchdown on back-to-back plays late in practice. Qadir Ismail, a college free agent out of Samford, also made a pair of catches in full-team workouts.

Scoop City Newsletter

Free daily NFL updates delivered straight to your inbox.

Free daily NFL updates delivered straight to your inbox.

To register

• Starting guard prospect Daniel Faalele had a rough day. Offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris pulled him after one play during the full-team effort and gave him an earful on the sideline. Faalele didn’t keep his feet on a few other plays. He also struggled with the heat, a consistent problem for the 6-foot-8, 380-pounder. Faalele spent part of the latter part of practice on one knee while he drank fluids. He eventually took off his jersey and shoulder pads and walked off the field with a member of the athletic training staff. Faalele wasn’t the only Raven who appeared to be bothered by the heat on Monday, though. Several players looked tired as they walked off the field after practice.

• Wide receiver Rashod Bateman had a much-needed healthy first week of training camp, but he left Monday’s practice after about an hour after colliding with Ka’dar Hollman during a one-on-one drill. Hollman appeared to block Bateman at the line of scrimmage, and Bateman didn’t attempt to continue the route. He slowly walked off the field and fell to the ground when Jackson went to check on him. Bateman rejoined the offense and did a few reps in full-team play before moving to the sidelines, where he did some running. Bateman eventually jogged back to the locker room. “I don’t think it’s anything serious,” Harbaugh said. “Just kind of a sore deal, so they took him in just to be safe.”

GO DEEPER

Ravens Stock Report: Who stood out and who didn’t during the first week of training camp?

• Wiggins has played aggressively, whether it’s getting a receiver in his hands or knocking the ball away from the ball carrier. He’s fiercely competitive and isn’t shy about talking to wideouts. He can gamble at times, as he did early in Monday’s practice when he tried to anticipate Wade’s route in one-on-one situations and broke to the outside. Wade cut inside and made the uncontested catch. And he can run. During a practice last week, Wiggins sprinted down the field to catch Nelson Agholor just short of the end zone. His GPS reading on the play was the highest the Ravens have ever recorded. All in all, Wiggins has been as advertised.

• In what is becoming a daily occurrence, Ravens veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey intercepted Jackson during a team session. Jackson attempted to force the ball to Flowers on the far sideline and Humphrey stepped in for the interception. Humphrey tossed the ball to a junior soccer player watching the action from the sideline. It was the fifth interception he had made in three practices, prompting Jackson to say this after the practice. “I’ve been telling Marlon he’s got to get his hands right. That’s why I throw interceptions to him. He dropped a couple of them last year, so I hope that helps him.”

(Photo: Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)