John Harbaugh: Lamar Jackson must 'speak for himself' on skipping OTAs

Shortly after what became a disappointing 2021 season concluded, Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson told reporters he was more worried at that time "about getting back right, right now, and getting ready for this offseason" than he was concerned about putting pen to paper on an extension ahead of potentially playing on the fifth-year option attached to his rookie contract. 

Multiple months have since passed, and Jackson hasn't signed a new deal with his current employer and, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk, was not present for the start of organized team activities this week. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was asked Wednesday about Jackson's absence and didn't offer much of an answer. 

"It’s up to him to speak for himself," Harbaugh remarked, according to Josh Alper of PFT.

For a piece published last week, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported that "all parties seem resigned to the fact that a new deal is highly unlikely" and that it was "likely" Jackson would play on the fifth-year option and then be retained for at least the 2023 campaign via the franchise tag. 

The Ravens are scheduled to hold their mandatory minicamp from June 14-16. Worried fans theoretically should hear from the 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player either before or around those dates.