ATLANTA – The Atlanta Falcons had to prepare for two quarterbacks this past week in anticipation of today’s visit from the Baltimore Ravens: 11th-year starter Joe Flacco and dual-threat rookie Lamar Jackson, the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner at Louisville.
Of the two, Jackson was the hot topic in Atlanta’s locker room.
The Falcons (4-7), who face the Carolina Panthers and Cam Newton twice each season in NFC South play, have prepared for other mobile quarterbacks. Atlanta defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, in his fourth NFL season, said Jackson belongs in a different category.
“I don’t feel there’s a comparison to what we’ve seen in terms of the level of athlete that he is,” Jarrett said. “He’s a guy who can play anywhere, at any position on the offensive side of the ball. I don’t think there’s a comparison to anybody in the league to what he can do athletically at the position of quarterback.”
Flacco received medical clearance to play and practiced Friday for the first time since injuring his right hip on Nov. 4, but in his absence, Jackson has boosted the team’s playoff hopes by leading Baltimore (6-5) to back-to-back wins over the Cincinnati Bengals, 24-21, and the Oakland Raiders, 34-17. Jackson suddenly is the Ravens’ second-leading rusher this season after leading them to more than 400 total yards in each of the two straight wins.