Adam Schefter addresses Lamar Jackson skipping Ravens OTAs

For pieces published by Sports Illustrated, NFL insider Jason La Canfora has suggested on multiple occasions that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson skipping some OTA practice sessions is related to the fact that Jackson is upset that he has not received a contract-extension offer to his liking from the Ravens this offseason. 

During a Wednesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter advised Ravens fans to relax regarding Jackson's whereabouts ahead of Memorial Day. 

Adam Schefter "not too worried" that Lamar Jackson has skipped some voluntary workouts

"Maybe he's got something going on," Schefter said about Jackson. "Who knows? I'm not too worried about Lamar Jackson missing (OTAs), especially considering how much he's been there this offseason."

On May 12, Jamison Hensley of ESPN noted that Jackson had attended portions of the team's offseason workout program and Baltimore's first minicamp under new head coach Jesse Minter. While speaking with reporters this past Tuesday, Minter insisted that he expected Jackson to be back with the team "soon." Minter also said he knows "when [Jackson is] gonna be back." 

Lamar Jackson isn't the only veteran to skip some voluntary workouts

"There've been plenty of instances where players didn't show up at certain points," Schefter added about voluntary workouts. "It never got the attention, but in the league itself right now, everything becomes headline-worthy. And Lamar Jackson was at all the workouts before this. So he's not at the OTAs that started, but he was going through the offseason workout program, which he hadn't done before. ...So maybe he just feels like, 'I picked up what I feel like I need to pick up [about] (offensive coordinator) Declan Doyle's new offense that's being installed and implemented here.' He feels good." 

Jackson's contract prevents the Ravens from retaining his rights via the franchise tag, so he is currently on track to reach free agency in March 2028. The two-time MVP has not publicly discussed his long-term future following the Ravens' hiring of Minter this past winter, so outsiders are left to guess why Jackson wasn't spotted at the team facility earlier this week.