Lamar: 'I didn't pull a Paul Pierce, I was cramping'

Lamar Jackson put an end to the mystery tied to his sudden departure from an important battle between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns on Monday night.

The Ravens quarterback was declared questionable to return due to cramps with his team leading 34-20 late in the third quarter. However, observers couldn't help but wonder if Jackson simply needed a bathroom break.

"Nah, I was cramping. I didn't pull a Paul Pierce, I was cramping," Jackson said postgame.

Pierce famously left a 2008 NBA Finals game with what looked to be a serious injury. He was carried off the court and then taken to the locker room in a wheelchair. The Boston Celtics legend then made a surprising return to the game.

Pierce finally admitted in 2019 that he simply needed to use the bathroom.

Jackson wasn't experiencing a similar issue. The Ravens star said his throwing arm started cramping on a couple of third-quarter overthrows.

While he was being stretched out and administered IVs, the Browns scored 15 unanswered points to take a 35-34 lead in the fourth quarter.

Trace McSorley took over at quarterback for the Ravens' next two drives. The backup then injured his knee on a third-and-2 play with two minutes left in the game. And that's when Jackson came running back onto the field.

On the next play, the signal-caller lobbed a 44-yard touchdown pass to Marquise Brown to give the Ravens a late 42-35 lead.

The Browns responded with a touchdown of their own, but Justin Tucker kicked a go-ahead field goal in the dying seconds, and the Ravens forced a safety on the last play.

Jackson ran the ball nine times for 124 yards and two touchdowns. It was just his second game back since testing positive for COVID-19.

Monday night's contest was important for both AFC North clubs. The Ravens needed a victory to improve to 8-5, and they sit just outside the playoff picture while occupying the AFC's eighth seed. The Browns dropped to 9-4, but they remain in the second wild-card spot.