Lamar Jackson’s first possession as a professional football player was uneventful. The former Heisman winner didn’t throw a single pass and attempted two runs.
But once the Baltimore Ravens’ rookie first-round pick came in for his second drive, it was a completely different story.
Jackson navigated his Ravens down the field against Chicago, culminating in this pretty touchdown pass to fellow rookie first-round pick Hayden Hurst.
The FIRST touchdown of the @Lj_era8!
Put six on the board for the @Ravens. #CHIvsBAL📺: NBC https://t.co/nqSxcuDYxK
— NFL (@NFL) August 3, 2018
It wasn’t exactly the awe-inspiring play he made on a consistent basis at Louisville. But it’s part of the repertoire that made Jackson such a fun quarterback in college and a first-round pick.
Earlier in the game, fellow quarterback Robert Griffin III connected on his first touchdown pass since 2016. This all comes with starter Joe Flacco sitting out the initial preseason game in Canton.
If nothing else, the performance we saw from Jackson on this one drive will lead to a battle for the No. 2 position behind Flacco. At best, there’s a chance he continues this play and competes for the starting job.