Baseball-type rehab stint in XFL to prepare Jackson for the ‘23 NFL season.
SPECIAL TO THE SPORTS COLUMN, April 1, 2023
Heralding a new era in offseason injury rehabilitation, the Baltimore Ravens have entered into a new agreement with the DC Defenders of the XFL.
According to team personnel close to the situation, quarterback Lamar Jackson – who missed the final month of the 2022 season due to a broken leg incurred against the Denver Broncos on December 4 – will see some playing time with the Defenders over the second half of their season.
“Pursuant to our goals of fielding the healthiest and best possible team this year, we felt this was a chance we couldn’t pass up,” Ravens’ general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement issued by the team. “We want our players to be healthy and in good football game shape when training camp opens in late July.”
Playing a half-season for the Defenders would likely not only get Jackson ready for the 2023 season, but it would help the already-formidable team – the only one in the XFL to get off to a 6-0 start – nail down a first-place North Division finish and a more accommodating playoff spot. The Defenders travel to face the usually-outclassed and winless Orlando Roughnecks tonight in Week Seven action.
“You can see why this is a win-win for both teams,” Defenders head coach Reggie Barlow said. “We can rest some of our starters against Orlando and get a good, long look at Lamar to see what he’s got.
“Also, in our remaining games, we can mix and match those periods in which we can insert Lamar situationally, just to get him used to everything he used to do earlier in his career when he was healthy.”
Player personnel director Von Hutchins agreed.
“Really, I’m surprised no one has thought of this before,” Hutchins said. “It’s like a minor-league baseball team playing an injured major leaguer who’s out on a rehab assignment. When he’s ready, we know he’ll return to Baltimore – another advantage, just an hour up the road – and be grateful for the experience.”
In the past, NFL teams would enter into agreements with the teams in the now-defunct NFL Europe league, allocating players to various teams in the latter circuit. There are no formal agreements between NFL and XFL teams similar to what the Ravens and Defenders are trying with Jackson, but it is seen leaguewide as a bold new experiment.
“Lately, with the way players have been getting stronger and faster, injuries have occurred more often,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. “Not only that, they’re happening to some of the biggest stars in our game. Our fans want to see these guys healthy and root for them, so this seemed like a good way to get our marquee guy back better than ever.”
For his part, Jackson welcomed the arrangement, an encouraging sign with contract talks between him and the Ravens stalled and word having been made public of his trade request on March 2.
“Oh, of course, I’m on board with this,” Jackson said in a video posted to his Instagram account. “I have been very eager to get back on the football field.
“Over the last few months, many things have been written and said about me and my attitude. It looks like I’ll have to prove myself all over again, prove that I want to win a Super Bowl like I promised the night I was drafted.”
Last week, a report surfaced on Pro Football Talk that Jackson was “done” with the Ravens and was eager to seek another team instead of playing on the non-exclusive franchise tag in Baltimore. This franchise traded with Philadelphia to get back into the first round of the 2018 draft, where they took Jackson with the 32nd overall pick.
“So not true,” Jackson said on Instagram at the time. “I don’t know where all these stories come from. It’s so ridiculous sometimes, yet I’ve felt that if I came out and talked about it, nobody would believe me anyway.”
December 2 was the last time Jackson spoke to the media before his season-ending injury against the Broncos two days later.
All parties involved are eager to see Jackson in action.
“You all know what kind of athlete Lamar is, what kind of football player he is,” Barlow said. “We want to help him get right and provide the kind of entertainment that makes our sport great, and maybe it will help us win a championship, too.”
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