Skip Bayless delivers brutal verdict on Lamar Jackson career as Ravens QB calls for more ‘consistency’

Nov 30, 2025 - 17:30

Lamar Jackson just hasn’t looked right since returning from injury.

The Baltimore Ravens franchise quarterback missed three games with a hamstring injury earlier on in the 2025 NFL season.

Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens warms up prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals — Lamar Jackson has not enjoyed being under center since his return from injury

Since his return, though, he has been a shell of the electric ‘Action Jackson’ that has won two MVP awards in his eight-year career.

The 28-year-old has made his name in the NFL as a dual-threat quarterback, holding the record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback with 6,437 and counting, as well as having the highest career passer rating among QB’s (1,500 minimum attempts) with 102.2.

But amid his recent struggles, in which he has 1,070 yards – only 98 of which are rushing – and just five touchdown passes, whilst he has also fired three interceptions and has four fumbles in his last five outings, sports media personality Skip Bayless believes that his days are numbered.

In an appearance on The Arena Gridiron show on Friday, Bayless said: “I’m not going make excuses for Lamar.

View Tweet: https://t.co/L1VnQHtuHD

“I will just tell you what my eyes tell me. He ain’t right, something is wrong physically with him. You realize that he has been on the injury report the last three weeks for something different than his hamstring.

“… He’s just beat all to hell. He’s taken too many hits. He’s not right, and I don’t know if he’s going to be able to get back right.”

Since his return in Week 9, Jackson has also been sacked 12 times, with that number jumping to 27 on the season – already four more than he was on the end of in 2024 with five games remaining of the regular season.

In his past three games alone, he has a QBR of 29, and is under 200 yards passing per game, which has led Bayless to believe that Jackson is holding the team back.

But, Jackson doesn’t see things that way, with the quarterback having been open in giving his own critique of his struggles earlier in the week.

Jackson knows he needs ‘consistency’

Following the Ravens’ 32-14 Thanksgiving defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals in Joe Burrow‘s first action since he suffered a turf-toe injury back in Week 2, Jackson mentioned the word “consistent” 10 times in four-and-a-half minutes of his media session on Friday.

Sports commentator and television personality Skip Bayless poses for a portrait in Los Angeles, California — Bayless has claimed that Jackson may never get back to being his dual-threat best

Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens scrambles and runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the New York Jets — Jackson has averaged just 19.6 rushing yards in his past five outings

“I just got to play consistent,” Jackson said in the wake of Baltimore’s five-game win streak being snapped, though he downplayed the idea of injuries playing a role in this.

“No, I just got to be more consistent,” he reiterated. “I’ve got to make those throws. I don’t miss them in practice, so I shouldn’t be missing them in the game.”

“I feel like I’m seeing the field pretty good for the most part, but I just got to be consistent. We all just got to be consistent.”

When asked what he can do to find his form and lead to winning football, he shouldered the responsibility and said: “Just be me. Just be Lamar. You know, that’s all.”

Having gone three straight games now without throwing a touchdown pass – the longest drought of his career – his teammates don’t appear to be worried.

“I have no complaints,” tight end Mark Andrews said. “He’s our guy, and I have full trust in him. Football is a way of life. Sometimes bad things happen.”

Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews of the Baltimore Ravens celebrating a touchdown — Andrews (R), Flowers (L) and other Ravens players have spoken out in support of their quarterback

“Lamar is out there fighting with us,” wide receiver Zay Flowers, who is the Ravens’ yards leader this season (767 yards) added. “As long as he is fighting, and we are fighting with him, we will be alright.”

Standout safety Kyle Hamilton – who signed a historic $100 million extension in August – even likened Jackson to the football version of NBA superstar LeBron James.

“He’s a competitor and he’s one of the best two-time MVPs for a reason,” Hamilton said. “So even LeBron has an off night.”

With their loss to the Bengals to take them to 6-6 on the season, the Ravens have fallen a half-game back of the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5), who host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

Per ESPN Analytics, this has seen their chances to win the division drop from 70 percent to just 57 percent.

Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for all the news, exclusives, interviews and more.