TAMPA, Fla. — Tom Brady and Lamar Jackson have mutual respect and admiration for each other’s success.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion and one of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks meet for the second time in their careers when the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.
When Brady, 45, briefly retired last winter, he posted a story and photo of the two of them on social media with the caption, “You’re next.”
Weeks later, the league’s career assists leader announced he would be returning for a 23rd season, hoping to complete “unfinished business” with the Bucs.
As the Ravens (4-3) traveled to Tampa this week for the first star quarterback clash since 2019 — Brady’s final season with the New England Patriots — Jackson, 25, was asked about the Instagram post.
“Yeah I’ve seen it. I’d say, hopefully, I’m next to win the Super Bowl,” Jackson said. “He’s got seven. So hopefully that’s who I am. next – that’s what I was hoping for.
Jackson led the Ravens to a 37-20 win over the Patriots three years ago. He never got the chance to speak with Brady off the court, but he admitted he enjoyed the Instagram post.
“From a Hall of Fame quarterback. Like I said, the GOAT — of course, that means a lot,” Jackson said.
Brady’s retirement cancellation didn’t go smoothly, starting with taking an 11-day break from training camp for personal reasons in August.
The Bucs (3-4) have lost four of their five games after a 2-0 start. Brady has thrown just one interception and leads the NFC with 1,942 passing yards, but he has just eight touchdown passes and Tampa Bay is tied for 25th in the league with 17.7 points per. match.
Brady, who hopes to put the offense on the right track against the Ravens, said he reached out to Jackson on social media last winter because he thought “very strongly” of the young quarterback and “I think he has a bright future.”
“He’s an incredible player and he challenges defences. He has a really unique skill set. His ability to improvise, to make plays with his legs, to extend plays. They do a good job with that attack,” Brady said.
“He is obviously very dangerous with the ball in his hands. And they also have weapons, so it’s a tough challenge for our defense,” Brady added. “We’re going to have to play a real complementary game, play hard, tough football and try to win.”
BRING THE PRESSURE
The Ravens recorded a season-high five sacks last weekend against Cleveland, including two by veteran linebacker Justin Houston. Along with Houston, Calais Campbell and Jason Pierre-Paul, Baltimore became the second team (after the 1994 Green Bay Packers) to have three defensive players on the active roster with at least 90 sacks – although Campbell was ruled out this weekend. end due to illness. .
Pierre-Paul has spent the past four seasons with Tampa Bay. He signed with the Ravens last month.
FINISHING WORKOUTS
Baltimore’s Justin Tucker has scored five field goals from under 35 yards in the past three games.
“Obviously, it thickens in the red zone. The field is smaller, the passing lanes are tighter, you have to execute,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.
“Things happen faster on offense, and they happen faster on defence. So it’s just a matter of getting in there and getting the job done, whether it’s connecting on a let- passing or hitting a run. Everybody wants to run the ball in the red zone. That’s the best way to go. Then you talk to our defence, we don’t want to allow that either.
INJURIES
Gus Edwards returned last weekend for his first game after missing the entire 2021 season with a serious knee injury. He rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns, but was also limited in practice this week. Rashod Bateman returned from a foot injury against the Browns but then missed practice time.
Also missing from training this week was tight end Mark Andrews, who had knee issues and didn’t catch last weekend.
The Bucs, meanwhile, will be without three-quarters of their starting secondary, as well as left guard Luke Goedeke. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr., cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting, wide receiver Russell Gage and tight end Cameron Brate are also absent. Defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (foot) is doubtful and receiver Julio Jones (knee) will be a game-time decision with injuries that have sidelined them much of the season.
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AP Sports Writer Noah Trister in Baltimore contributed.
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