Lamar Jackson’s rushing ability has always been one of the biggest headaches for opposing defenses, however, after injuries limited that part of his game last season, the Baltimore Ravens quarterback is making it clear that he won’t force anything just to chase rushing numbers.
That does not mean Jackson plans to stay in the pocket, with a healthy offseason behind him and a new offense with the Ravens, his latest comments leave the door wide open for another version of “Action Jackson” in 2026.
Lamar Jackson And The Baltimore Ravens Could See More Of His Legs In 2026Nov 27, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) rushes thebasl against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn ImagesHe finished 2025 with career lows across the board as a runner, recording just 67 carries for 349 yards and 2 touchdowns while missing four games. Injuries, including a hamstring issue, played a major role in that decline, and Jackson admitted he simply wasn’t able to run the way he wanted.
When asked whether he expects to run more this season, Jackson did not put a number on it. Instead, he gave an answer that says plenty about his approach.
“Whatever it takes to win that’s what I’m all about.”
Lamar Jackson said injuries impacted how much he ran last season.
When asked if he’ll run more this season, via @jamisonhensley:
"Whatever it takes to win that's what I'm all about."pic.twitter.com/dgl9o08Z58
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) August 26, 2026
This is crucial because the Baltimore offense is at its deadliest when Jackson poses a threat to defenses in different forms. Between 2019 and 2024, he rushed for almost 145 times and 913 yards each season, demonstrating the kind of threat Jackson’s legs can pose on a defense.
The previous year represented a huge contrast because last season Jackson rushed for an average of just 5.2 times per game, compared to almost 10 times per game he averaged over the past six seasons as a full-time starter for the Ravens. Jackson rushed for 349 yards in comparison to the 915 yards he rushed for in 2024, making him one of the deadliest dual-threat quarterbacks.
Still, the answer isn’t necessarily for Jackson to start forcing designed runs again. The Ravens have added more options around him, giving the QB another reason to pick his spots. If those weapons create easier opportunities through the air, Jackson can take advantage; however, when a defense gives him an opening to escape, his comments suggest he won’t hesitate to use it.
This is particularly the case with the start of an entirely new era for the Ravens, with Jesse Minter becoming their new head coach and Declan Doyle in charge of the offense. As a result, this is a significant moment in Jackson’s career as he has to learn a new scheme for the organization.
Jackson has no need to show that he can run for 10 plays in each game but should be fit enough to allow the opposing defense to think about it. And since he was unable to use this play during last year because of injuries, the “whatever it takes” approach may yield a very different quarterback in 2026.
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The post ‘Whatever It Takes to Win’ — Lamar Jackson Hints at More Rushing After Injury-Plagued Season appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.
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