Russell Wilson Lamar Jackson became the focus of a recent discussion on quarterback play, with the Super Bowl winner saying the Baltimore Ravens star could retire as the best dynamic quarterback in NFL history.
Russell Wilson Lamar Jackson comparison and praise
On the latest episode of CBS Sports’ Set Hut!, Wilson highlighted Jackson’s dual-threat ability, noting that while Michael Vick remains a benchmark for dynamic play, Jackson has a chance to surpass him by the end of his career. Jackson already owns the NFL records for career rushing yards by a quarterback at 6,562 and for single-season rushing yards by a quarterback at 1,206.
“He’s as good as it gets,” Wilson said, adding that there is no one better than Jackson as a runner and that the difficulty of the plays he makes is often underappreciated.
Explaining Baltimore’s option looks with Derrick Henry
Wilson and co-host Chris Long stood up during the segment to illustrate how Baltimore stresses defenses when Jackson is under center with running back Derrick Henry behind him. They said that Henry aligned directly behind Jackson creates uncertainty for defenders about who will keep the ball, which complicates run fits and preserves the threat of play action to attack downfield.
Wilson said the combination of Jackson’s passing and rushing “makes him really special,” pointing to zone-read proficiency, top-end speed, and fluid movement as defining traits. Long likened Jackson’s Week 1 running to “a kid that had candy that he wasn’t supposed to have.”
Ravens’ explosive Week 1 and what is next
First-year head coach Jesse Minter’s debut featured more than 500 yards of offense, according to game totals. Jackson threw for 324 yards with one touchdown pass, added 40 rushing yards, and scored once on the ground as Baltimore beat the Indianapolis Colts 41-23. It was the Ravens’ second consecutive season opener with at least 40 points.
Jackson and the Ravens are set to host the New Orleans Saints in Week 2. The Saints opened their season with a 31-30 loss to the Detroit Lions.