Lamar Jackson (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback and reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson missed four practice days last week with an undisclosed illness, but one prominent sports doctor thinks he knows the issue.

Lamar Jackson returned to practice on Saturday after missing four sessions. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Friday that the 27-year-old quarterback was dealing “with a flu-like situation.”

Neither Jackson nor head coach John Harbaugh would specify the quarterback’s illness, but well-known sports doctor Jesse Morse thinks it was a gut-related problem for the three-time Pro Bowler:

“It’s obvious that Lamar Jackson has some non-musculoskeletal issues that need to be properly addressed before the season starts. My guess is it’s his gut. It’s always the gut.”

Lamar Jackson missed one game in 2020 because of COVID-19 and five games in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons with a string of injuries. He also had to miss Baltimore’s 2022 Wild Card Round loss to the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals.

But Jackson was able to stay healthy last season and ran away with his second MVP award after completing 67.2 percent of pass attempts for 3,678 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions to go along with 821 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

Lamar Jackson led the Ravens to their first AFC Championship Game appearance in 11 years, but they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs by a final score of 17-10. Jackson notably struggled in that game, going 20 of 37 for 272 yards, one passing touchdown and an interception with a lost fumble.

Lamar Jackson Gets An Early Shot At Revenge In Week 1

The Ravens won’t have to wait much longer for a chance at revenge against Patrick Mahomes and company. Baltimore will open their 2024 season with a Week 1 road contest against the defending Super Bowl champions in the NFL Kickoff Game on Sept. 5.

Jackson is 1-4 in his career against Kansas City, with his only victory coming back in Week 2 of the 2021 season. We’ll see if he can rebound with a statement win against Kansas City in what just might be a preview to the 2024 AFC title game as well.