Ravens' Zay Flowers Defends Lamar Jackson's Absence from Voluntary Workouts

Flowers reveals Jackson prioritizes his faith and personal growth over financial concerns during the offseason.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 6:38pm

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A fractured, geometric painting in the style of Pablo Picasso, with overlapping planes of color and shape representing a football practice or game. The players and field are deconstructed into abstract forms, conveying the conceptual idea of an athlete's personal growth and spiritual journey during the offseason.A cubist interpretation of a Ravens practice session captures the dynamic energy and dedication of Lamar Jackson's offseason routine, even when he's absent from the team's voluntary workouts.Baltimore Today

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has come to the defense of his teammate, quarterback Lamar Jackson, regarding his frequent absences from the team's voluntary offseason workouts. Flowers explained that Jackson uses the offseason to focus on his faith and personal growth, rather than prioritizing financial matters. This provides context around Jackson's decision-making process and the misconceptions that often surround his offseason activities.

Why it matters

Lamar Jackson's absence from voluntary workouts has been a recurring storyline in recent offseasons, often sparking speculation about his commitment or contract negotiations. Flowers' comments offer a window into Jackson's perspective and priorities, which may help fans and media better understand the quarterback's approach to the offseason.

The details

In an appearance on the '4th and South' podcast, Zay Flowers revealed that Lamar Jackson usually skips voluntary workouts to focus on his faith and personal growth. Flowers said, 'They think he doesn't care because he ain't showing up at the OTAs, and they're thinking he's missing out on money. But money doesn't run L (Lamar). He don't really care about that. L is all into God. He's big on God, bro. That's what he's supposed to do. That's where he's supposed to be at. That's how he feels. L is gonna do everything that he thinks he's supposed to do. He reads the Bible every day.'

  • Jackson has missed voluntary workouts in 2022, 2024, and 2025.
  • Jackson showed up for new head coach Jesse Minter's first offseason program in 2026.

The players

Lamar Jackson

The starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, known for his dynamic dual-threat abilities and strong religious faith.

Zay Flowers

A wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens who has come to the defense of his teammate, Lamar Jackson, regarding his absence from voluntary offseason workouts.

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What they’re saying

“'They think he doesn't care because he ain't showing up at the OTAs, and they're thinking he's missing out on money. But money doesn't run L (Lamar). He don't really care about that. L is all into God. He's big on God, bro. That's what he's supposed to do. That's where he's supposed to be at. That's how he feels. L is gonna do everything that he thinks he's supposed to do. He reads the Bible every day.'”

— Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens Wide Receiver

What’s next

As the Ravens continue their offseason program, it will be interesting to see if Lamar Jackson's approach to voluntary workouts remains consistent with his past behavior. The team and fans will be eager to see him fully engaged and healthy for the upcoming season.

The takeaway

Lamar Jackson's absence from voluntary offseason workouts has often been misunderstood, with assumptions made about his commitment or contract negotiations. However, Zay Flowers' comments provide valuable insight into Jackson's priorities, revealing that he uses the offseason to focus on his faith and personal growth, rather than financial concerns. This understanding may help fans and media appreciate Jackson's approach and leadership style better.