Lamar Jackson is coming off one of the most memorable single seasons by a quarterback in NFL history, but there is concern he may not hold up long term.
Former QB: Lamar Jackson getting hit so much is a ‘massive concern’
Speaking on ESPN’s “Get Up” Thursday morning, former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck worried aloud about Jackson’s health.
“The question coming into last season was can you do this for an entire season?” Hasselbeck said. “Well, they proved that you can do it for an entire season. But can you do it for five years? Can you do it for three years? That ends up being the issue.”
Hasselbeck also said the number of hits Jackson takes is a “massive concern.”
Lamar Jackson: Record-breaking stats led to MVP season
In his first full season as the starting quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens, Jackson stunned, seemingly at every turn. He smashed Michael Vick’s single-season record for most rushing yards by a quarterback, finishing with 1,206 yards on the ground. Jackson also scored seven rushing touchdowns and regularly put jaws on the floor with stunning open-field moves (like this).
That being said, he did absorb some big hits from time to time due to his physical style of play. Here’s a great example of that.
The good news is that Jackson also put up prolific passing stats, especially when it came to throwing touchdowns. His 36 passing scores led the NFL (in just 15 games), and he racked up 7.8 yards per attempt.
All this led to Jackson becoming just the second man in NFL history to win the MVP trophy with a unanimous vote. At the age of 23, he’s just getting started. If he stays healthy long term, then Jackson could go down as one of the best in NFL history.