After another strong day from Lamar Jackson, John Harbaugh ‘real pleased’ with Ravens’ passing game

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is heading into his day off with another set of highlight plays and yet more praise from his coaches.

In an afternoon practice that highlighted his growth at training camp, Jackson showed off the uncommon athleticism that has raised hopes for a “revolutionary” offense in Baltimore. And one completion Saturday that was far from his longest was maybe his most impressive.

Jackson sometimes changes his arm slot on passes, typically for shorter throws or when he’s on the run. On one play in 11-on-11 action, Jackson was hurried somewhat as he scanned the field from the pocket. As Miles Boykin, guarded by cornerback Marlon Humphrey, pivoted toward Jackson on a comeback route, Jackson saw the rookie wide receiver flash open near the first-down marker.

[ Ravens lineman Marshal Yanda expected to return Monday after resting minor injury ]

Rather than make an overhead throw to Boykin and give Humphrey a better angle on the ball, Jackson, already leaning to his right, delivered a Patrick Mahomes-esque sidearm strike. The pass arrived just in time, and the crowd tittered in excitement. (An ill-advised sidearm throw on the next play fell incomplete.)

Later, Jackson rolled out to his right after feeling pressure from Tavon Young on a cornerback blitz and lofted a back-foot throw to tight end Mark Andrews. Andrews, streaking diagonally to the end zone, made a full-extension catch for a touchdown. A Jackson-to-Andrews catch-and-run near the end of the practice might have gone the distance in a “live” setting as well.

“I’m real pleased with the passing game,” coach John Harbaugh said afterward. “The offense is always a little bit behind the defense. You can never predict where it’s going to go, but it’s been really good. ... It’s been crisp and sharp.”

While the Ravens offense has been most dangerous with its tight ends, not wide receivers, Jackson will face a new challenge in Monday and Tuesday’s joint practices. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ cornerback trio of Jalen Ramsey, A.J. Bouye and D.J. Hayden is one of the stingiest in the NFL, and Pro Football Focus rated the secondary the league’s third best entering 2019.

Of course, Jackson already faces the site’s top-ranked unit every day.

“He’s right where we would hope he would be, and that’s in a good spot,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Friday. "It’s day-to-day. Today, we have to go back in and look and see what we can do better, see what we can learn from, come out tomorrow and take another step forward. That’s what he’s doing. Whether it’s walk-throughs, meetings, practice, you’re really seeing him take the reins of the offense. It’s exciting.”