Lamar ditches wristband at camp as new Ravens OC preaches communication

Lamar Jackson has a slightly different look at training camp this year.

At the request of new Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Jackson has ditched a wristband with all of the team's plays written on it. The star quarterback has worn it every year since entering the NFL to assist him with play-calling.

"One of the most important things is your ability to communicate the calls, and the best way for that to happen is to not start with wristbands," Monken said Friday, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "(Jackson) has to hear what I say; he has to process the call; he has to regurgitate to the players; he has to get the cadence."

"We can always go to wristbands. Wristbands are easy; you just read it. Hard is learning the offense, being able to process and make the calls," added Monken, who joined Baltimore this offseason to replace Greg Roman after helping Georgia win back-to-back national championships.

Jackson has praised Monken's offensive system, which is expected to give the former MVP more freedom in the passing game.

The 26-year-old is noncommittal about whether or not he'll play the 2023 season without a wristband.

"I'm saying for right now, at the beginning of training camp," Jackson said. "The playbook might get longer throughout the process, so we'll see."

Jackson took the NFL by storm after being drafted 32nd overall in 2018, leading the league with 36 touchdown passes en route to MVP honors in 2019. Baltimore finished that season as football's No. 1-ranked offense.

However, the Ravens haven't replicated that production since, with their offense's scoring dropping in rank each year. Baltimore averaged 20.6 points per game in 2022, only the 19th-best mark.

In addition to a different OC, the Ravens gave Jackson new offensive weapons this year, signing wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and drafting first-round wideout Zay Flowers.