Former Super Bowl champion hits back at critics of Lamar Jackson's performance vs. Steelers
Lamar Jackson’s performance in the Baltimore Ravens’ Week 5 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers has garnered mixed reviews from many. Former players such as Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe have questioned whether Jackson is living up to the high expectations that were placed on him when he signed the five-year, $260 […]
Lamar Jackson’s performance in the Baltimore Ravens’ Week 5 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers has garnered mixed reviews from many.
Former players such as Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe have questioned whether Jackson is living up to the high expectations that were placed on him when he signed the five-year, $260 million deal with Baltimore in the offseason. There are others who have been coming to the defense of the two-time Pro Bowler, including former Ravens wideout Torrey Smith.
Smith does not believe that Jackson is deserving of much blame for Baltimore’s lackluster showing on offense in Week 5.
"Folks are blaming Lamar Jackson for that loss," Smith said on his "Trending Thoughts with Torrey Smith" podcast. "The media, national media, one of my favorite shows "First Take" Stephen A. Smith, Uncle Shannon shout out to the guys, are having conversations about is Lamar Jackson worth his money? Are the Ravens getting their money worth?
"To have that conversation at this point of the season is ridiculous. … Are we watching the whole games or are we just talking about things and reading highlights and reading clips because anyone that watched that full Pittsburgh Steelers game realizes that Lamar Jackson was not the problem. In fact, the team would have blown them out if things would have been executed because it's a team game. … The receivers just weren't on their game. Nelly dropped a big one, could have been a touchdown. He would have ran in with that one. Talk about Bateman, dropping one in the end zone."
Smith added that at the end of the day, Jackson "did his job."
Baltimore tallied a season-high seven drops against Pittsburgh, with three of them coming from tight end Mark Andrews.
The Ravens will next be in action in Week 6 when they will square off with the Tennessee Titans.
