Ravens' Zay Flowers reveals why Lamar Jackson usually skips voluntary workouts

Almost every year for the past five offseasons, Lamar Jackson's absence from voluntary workouts has generated plenty of buzz.

He missed them in 2022, 2024 and 2025, and watching him show up for new head coach Jesse Minter was a story within itself.

That's why fellow Baltimore Ravens star WR Zay Flowers wanted to set the record straight on his quarterback.

In an appearance on Leonard Fournette and Jarvis Landry's "4th and South" podcast, he revealed that Jackson usually takes the offseason to work out on his own and get closer to God.

Zay Flowers comments on Lamar Jackson historically skipping voluntary workouts

“They think he doesn’t care because he ain’t showing up at the OTAs, and they’re thinking he’s missing out on money. But money doesn’t run L (Lamar),” Flowers said. “He don’t really care about that. L is all into God. He’s big on God, bro. That’s what he’s supposed to do. That’s where he’s supposed to be at. That’s how he feels. L is gonna do everything that he thinks he’s supposed to do. He reads the Bible every day.”

Perhaps coincidentally, Jackson has been in the midst of some pretty harsh contract negotiations during voluntary workouts. 

However, his speedy teammate believes he's just doing what he has to do to take care of himself, not financially but mentally and emotionally, and he admires him for that.

At the end of the day, Jackson is going to be 100% ready to suit up and play if he's healthy enough to do it, regardless of whether he was there for the entire offseason program.

It's more about leading by example and embracing the leadership role and responsibilities that come with being the face of the franchise.

That said, it's not that big a deal when guys like Aaron Rodgers or Myles Garrett skip voluntary workouts, so perhaps Jackson also deserves some slack.