By Joe Schiller
Lamar Jackson's biggest threat is his legs. Jackson rushed for 695 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie, and he's rushed for 172 yards and a touchdown in three games this season.
Jackson is essentially a cheat code with his legs. He has the elusiveness to make defenders miss and the ability deliver ankle-breaking highlights with quick misdirections. Just ask Kansas Chiefs' defensive end, Alex Okafor.
Chiefs Alex Okafor told @TerezPaylor about this play: "[Lamar Jackson> put me in the blender.""Y'all talking about Lamar," asked Chris Jones from the next locker. "Aw, man. He sauced me up a couple times.""Sauce ain't the word," Okafor said. "Blender."pic.twitter.com/Xr1KcLImym
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) September 23, 2019 Alex Okafor.Jackson has been doing this since high school, when the video of him juking a defender went viral on social media. But the second-year quarterback told reporters this week that he doesn't like running, despite how good he might be at it.
"I hate running," Jackson said, via ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "Only if I have to, but my job is to get the ball to the receivers, the tight ends, running backs. If I have to run, I'll do it, but I'd rather just sit back and pass it. I like throwing touchdowns instead of running them."
Jackson has vastly improved as a passer this season. He's thrown for 863 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions through three games with a 63% completion percentage. The Ravens have surrounded him with an arsenal of new weapons, but some of Jackson's best plays this season have come on the ground. He can escape the pocket on crucial down-and-distance situations unlike like most quarterbacks, and his legs are special.
The Ravens will face the Browns on Sunday, an opponent who Jackson has beat with his legs. He rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns in the Week 17 playoff-clinching win against Cleveland.
