Lamar opens up on weight loss: 'I felt like I was fat'

Lamar Jackson has a pretty simple explanation for why he cut weight this offseason: He doesn't like getting caught on the field.

"Just so I could move around without getting fatigued. That's all," Jackson recently explained to Jonathan Jones of CBS. "I don't know if I was getting fatigued last year - probably if I get a first down. But I don't like getting caught if I do decide to run."

The Baltimore Ravens quarterback revealed earlier this offseason that he was down to around 200 pounds after playing at 230 pounds in 2022 and 215 pounds last season.

"I was fat, to me. I felt like I was fat," Jackson said. "I just saw a video from two years ago (from a game against) the Browns, and I looked out of shape, but I was in shape."

He added: "My eyes may be deceiving me, but I believe I looked a little slower ... but not now."

Ravens fans won't see the slimmed-down passer on the field in the team's preseason opener, as head coach John Harbaugh announced Wednesday that Jackson won't play against the Philadelphia Eagles in Friday's game, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network.

Jackson collected his second MVP award last season after setting career highs in completion percentage (67.2%) and passing yards (3,678). He threw for 24 touchdowns and tallied another 821 yards and five scores on the ground.