“There’s no quarterback more unfairly criticized than Lamar Jackson!” Ryan Clark backs Ravens QB with division title at stake

Lamar Jackson will have one of the biggest games of his career so far on Sunday: a do-or-die, winner-take-all at the Pittsburgh Steelers. And at least one person has come to his defense as it looms.

The two-time MVP has been facing much criticism over his commitment to the Baltimore Ravens throughout the season. It has even come to the point that the Baltimore Sun recently alleged that he had been sleeping during team meetings.

But Friday's edition of First Take, former Super Bowl-winning safety Ryan Clark defended him:

"There is no more unfairly criticized quarterback, maybe in the history of football, than Lamar Jackson. When Lamar Jackson doesn't play, he is being asked if he quit on his team, does he wanna be out there? Would you ask that of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, or Joe Burrow?"

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Jackson himself addressed those rumors during his media availability on Thursday:

"I was really hurt. I don't know why I gotta get questioned ... I never quit on my team before. I never quit anything to be honest with y'all. I don't know where that noise come from. ... Do you think Harbaugh would let me fall asleep in his meetings? I'm right in the front!"

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Raiders mentioned as a 2026 trade destination for Lamar Jackson

Among the things that have happened during Lamar Jackson's supposed rift with the Ravens organization has been his name emerging in trade talks. In a recent edition of Fox Sports' NFL Confidential, Ralph Vacchiano recalled a league insider telling him that the Las Vegas Raiders were a possible destination for the multiple-time MVP:

"The Raiders would make the most sense, both from a talent-need perspective and a cap space available perspective. As we look at the next two years, the Raiders have the most cap space. The reason why cap space is an important consideration is because Lamar is going to be looking for a new contract ASAP."

The Raiders, who were supposed to return to contention with Geno Smith and Pete Carroll, have instead sunk to being among the AFC's worst teams. At 2-14 entering Sunday, they currently hold the No. 1 pick.

The insider also said that if Jackson is not under consideration, then general manager John Spytek could also eye the Arizona Cardinals' Kyler Murray, who is facing an uncertain future in Glendale.

Edited by Andre Castillo