Return of Action Jackson? Lamar Jackson plans to rely on his speed again in 2026

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Return of Action Jackson? Lamar Jackson plans to rely on his speed again in 2026

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Aug 26, 2026 3:41 PM ET

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson plans on using his wheels again this upcoming season.

Jackson ran much less last season while battling hamstring and back issues, missing four games. The QB feels he has regained that speed as he enters his ninth season.

Lamar Jackson talks running more

Asked Wednesday if he plans to run more next season, Jackson said, "Whatever it takes to win."

"I believe you know, I know, a lot of people know I was hurt last year, too," Jackson said before that question. "I couldn't really do anything I wanted to, so it really wouldn't put my team in a good position if I was just running hurt, losing yards, things like that was happening. But whatever it takes to win, that's what I'm all about. And I've always been about that, too."

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson on how much he will run this season after a career low rushing attempts last season pic.twitter.com/afxbGcEftl
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) August 26, 2026

The Ravens win plenty when Jackson runs. He ran a career-high 176 times for 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 regular-season games in 2019, winning his first of two league MVPs. Baltimore went 14-2, which was the best regular-season record in the league.

Last season, Jackson logged career lows in rushing attempts (67), rushing yards (349) and rushing TDs (two), and the Ravens cratered. Baltimore finished 8-9, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season.

After failing to meet expectations, Baltimore made changes. The Ravens fired head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons with the team, replacing him with former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.

Minter hired former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle in the same capacity. He must help Jackson, 29, find ways to run more at a point when his speed may begin to tail off. Even hyper-athletic QBs like Jackson slow as they age, which may explain why his rushing attempts have gradually decreased over the past four seasons.

Jackson averaged 11.1 rush attempts per game in 2021, the second-highest number in his career. Since then, he hasn't averaged more than 9.3 attempts per game.

Jackson, though, may try to surpass that number this season to win his first Super Bowl. It has worked before. Let's see if it can produce similar or better results this time.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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