{"id":332,"date":"2026-05-21T08:52:48","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T01:52:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.drinkfood.info\/?p=332"},"modified":"2026-05-21T08:52:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T01:52:48","slug":"lamar-jackson-absent-from-ravens-ota-as-new-coach-jesse-minter-downplays-voluntary-practice-skip-dt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.drinkfood.info\/?p=332","title":{"rendered":"Lamar Jackson absent from Ravens OTA as new coach Jesse Minter downplays voluntary practice skip..DT"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Minter expects Jackson back soon, cites \u2018great conversations\u2019 with QB<\/h2>\n

The\u00a0Baltimore Ravens\u00a0were without their two-time NFL MVP quarterback when Tuesday\u2019s organized team activities (OTAs) began.<\/p>\n

Why Lamar Jackson was absent from Tuesday\u2019s media-open practice remains unclear. Monday\u2019s voluntary OTAs were closed to reporters. New Ravens coach Jesse Minter offered little explanation but downplayed concerns about Jackson\u2019s absence and suggested the star quarterback would return soon.<\/p>\n

“Lamar\u2019s been one of our leaders of the offseason program, and he had a couple things going on yesterday and today, and I do expect him to be back soon,” Minter said. “We\u2019ve had some great conversations. I know when he\u2019s going to be back and again, I\u2019ll probably leave those between me and Lamar.”<\/p>\n

\n
\"Lamar<\/picture><\/div>\n
\n
\n

Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens watches the NFL preseason game against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., on Aug. 23, 2025.\u00a0(Greg Fiume\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Minter replaced John Harbaugh, who was dismissed in January after 18 seasons as the Ravens\u2019 head coach. The\u00a0New York Giants hired Harbaugh\u00a0shortly after his departure from Baltimore.<\/p>\n

Jackson\u2019s attendance at voluntary offseason activities has drawn attention because of its inconsistency throughout his NFL career. It\u2019s hard to say how much that matters, but it\u2019s certainly an issue critics have pointed to from time to time. His contract, with two years remaining, has also been a significant topic lately after he and the Ravens did not agree to an extension before the start of free agency. Baltimore instead restructured Jackson\u2019s deal to create cap space.<\/p>\n

LAMAR JACKSON HITS BACK AT CRITICS WITH FAITHFUL MESSAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Ravens held minicamp in April \u2014 the\u00a0first under Minter\u00a0\u2014 and Jackson was in attendance.<\/p>\n

At the end of Tuesday’s OTAs, the team took part in a little game in which players from the offense and defense competed at throwing medicine balls. Minter said that\u2019s part of preparing the team to play well in the most important moments.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Jesse<\/picture><\/div>\n
\n
\n

New Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter is introduced during a news conference at Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Maryland, on Jan. 29, 2026.\u00a0(Rob Carr\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“We end practice every day (with an) \u2018At our best when our best is needed\u2019 period, and so that could be anything different. Today, we decided to do a little friendly competition,” Minter said.<\/p>\n

\n

“Right now, you can\u2019t really do the football competition, and so I thought it would be something different, something fun. I try to get guys to not know what\u2019s about to happen and answer the bell when their number\u2019s called, and it\u2019s as simple as that. That\u2019s really all we\u2019re trying to get done with that and make it fun, have the guys pull for each other.”<\/p>\n

\n
\"Lamar<\/picture><\/div>\n
\n
\n

Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens warms up before the game against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md., on Dec. 21, 2025. (Kevin Sabitus\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Star running back\u00a0Derrick Henry\u00a0caused a brief scare after a knee-to-knee collision with another player. Though he stayed down momentarily, he later returned to practice.<\/p>\n

“The ground felt like a bed for a little while,” he said. “And I saw you all (reporters) looking hot and bored, so I was like, \u2018I need to give them something to tweet and write about.\u2019”<\/p>\n

The Associated Press contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Minter expects Jackson back soon, cites \u2018great conversations\u2019 with QB The\u00a0Baltimore Ravens\u00a0were without their two-time NFL MVP quarterback when Tuesday\u2019s organized team activities (OTAs) began. 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