Lamar Jackson's Broken Form Sparks Concern for the Baltimore Ravens

For the Baltimore Ravens, Lamar Jackson has long been the engine of their offense—a dual-threat quarterback whose MVP-caliber play could single-handedly turn games. But over the past five weeks, a noticeable “broken form” has emerged: inconsistent passing mechanics, a dip in mobility, and uncharacteristic decision-making errors that have left fans and analysts worried. This isn’t the same Jackson who led the Ravens to a 6-2 start; instead, he’s looked like a player stuck in a rut, unable to replicate the precision and explosiveness that defined his best seasons. Lamar Jackson's Broken Form Sparks Concern for the Baltimore Ravens delves into the specific issues plaguing his play, why they’re happening, and what they mean for a Ravens team fighting to stay in the playoff hunt.

Lamar Jackson's Broken Form Sparks Concern for the Baltimore Ravens begins with mechanical flaws in his passing— a regression that’s led to missed opportunities. Film study from recent games reveals clear inconsistencies: Jackson’s footwork has grown sloppy (he’s rushing throws instead of setting his feet firmly), his release has slowed by 0.2 seconds (per NFL Next Gen Stats), and his follow-through lacks the sharpness that once made his intermediate passes reliable. Against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9, he overthrew an open Mark Andrews on a third-and-5 play— a throw he’d complete 9 times out of 10 in his prime— leading to a punt that squandered a scoring chance. “Lamar’s mechanics are the foundation of his passing, and right now, that foundation is shaky,” said former NFL quarterback and analyst Kurt Warner. “When you don’t set your feet, you lose accuracy. When you rush your release, you give defenders more time to react. These are small issues, but they add up to big problems for an offense that relies on him.” Through 13 weeks, Jackson’s completion percentage has dropped to 61.2%— his lowest since 2020— and he’s thrown 7 interceptions, already matching his total from last season.

A second red flag in Jackson’s broken form is declining mobility— the loss of a trait that once made him unstoppable. Jackson’s speed and elusiveness have always been his safety net; when plays broke down, he could scramble for first downs or extend drives with his legs. But this season, he’s averaging just 5.1 rushing yards per carry— down from 6.3 last year— and has been sacked 24 times, a rate of 2 per game (up from 1.5 in 2023). Opposing defenses have noticed: they’re rushing him more aggressively, knowing he’s less likely to break free for a big run. In the Ravens’ Week 11 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jackson had just 12 rushing yards and was sacked 3 times, including a critical fourth-quarter takedown that ended a potential game-tying drive. “Mobility isn’t just about speed for Lamar—it’s about how he keeps defenses honest,” said Ravens offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris. “When he can’t scramble, defenses can focus solely on stopping the pass, and that makes our job a lot harder.” While Jackson has downplayed any injury concerns, sources close to the team note he’s been managing a minor knee issue since Week 7— one that may be limiting his ability to cut and accelerate.

Lamar Jackson's Broken Form Sparks Concern for the Baltimore Ravens also includes decision-making errors— a trend that’s costing the Baltimore Ravens critical points. Jackson has never been a turnover-prone quarterback, but lately, he’s been forcing passes into double coverage and holding the ball too long, leading to costly mistakes. In the Week 10 loss to the Cleveland Browns, he threw an interception in the end zone after ignoring an open Zay Flowers on the sidelines, turning a potential touchdown into a Browns’ defensive stop. Three weeks later, he held the ball for 4.6 seconds on a third-and-3 play against the Houston Texans, getting sacked and forcing a field goal instead of a possible first down. “Decision-making is about confidence and processing speed, and Lamar looks like he’s second-guessing himself right now,” said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, in a rare public acknowledgment of the issue. “He’s not trusting his reads, and he’s not trusting the guys around him. That’s not the Lamar we know.” For the Baltimore Ravens, these errors have been devastating: four of Jackson’s interceptions have led to opponent touchdowns, and his fumbles have cost the team 14 points— nearly the difference in their three-game losing streak.

Another layer of concern is the impact on the Ravens’ offensive identity— a shift that’s left the Baltimore Ravens adrift. The Ravens’ offense was built around Jackson’s ability to balance passing and running; when he’s playing well, they can attack defenses in multiple ways. But with his form broken, the offense has become one-dimensional: they’re relying more on the running game (62% of plays in recent weeks, up from 55rlier in the season) and abandoning the deep passing game that once kept defenses on their heels. Wide receivers have grown frustrated— Flowers has publicly noted that “we’re not getting the same looks we did early in the season”— and tight end Mark Andrews has seen his targets drop by 2 per game. “Our offense works when Lamar is a threat to do everything,” said offensive coordinator Todd Monken. “When he’s not passing well or running well, we lose that balance, and defenses can game-plan against us easier.” For the Baltimore Ravens, this identity crisis has made it hard to build momentum: they’ve scored more than 20 points just once in their past five games, a far cry from the 28 points per game they averaged in September.

Finally, Lamar Jackson's Broken Form Sparks Concern for the Baltimore Ravens wraps up with the path forward— and what’s at stake for the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have taken steps to fix the issue: they’ve simplified the playbook to reduce Jackson’s decision-making load, brought in former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco to work on passing mechanics, and adjusted practice schedules to give Jackson more reps with receivers. Harbaugh has also emphasized “going back to basics” in team meetings, focusing on the simple plays that Jackson executed flawlessly earlier in the season. “Lamar is a great player—great players go through slumps,” Harbaugh said. “Our job is to help him work through this, not panic.” But the stakes are high: the Ravens are currently the AFC’s seventh seed, and a few more losses could end their playoff hopes. For Jackson, fixing his broken form isn’t just about saving the season—it’s about reaffirming his status as the Ravens’ long-term franchise quarterback. Lamar Jackson's Broken Form Sparks Concern for the Baltimore Ravens ultimately shows that even the best players struggle, but how a team responds to that struggle defines its character. For the Ravens, the next month will be a test: can they help Jackson his form, or will his slump derail their championship aspirations?