Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey isn't happy with the manner in which Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is treated. And Humphrey said so on Thursday.
"It seems like Lamar's the only quarterback [who] kind of gets the slander that he gets for anytime anything is going on," Humphrey told reporters, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN. "I feel like you just don't see these same articles. I'm in the hot tub and it's this, that, and the third. Unfair treatment."
Humphrey didn't specify any recent examples during Jackson's absence due to an ankle injury.
"I just feel like sometimes it seems like it gets away from . . . I don't know if it's because of lack of agent or what, that no one can kind of defend him," Humphrey said. "But I do know this, if Lamar Jackson can play, if he's healthy enough to play, he will play, and that's kind of all I can say for that."
It is one of the practical consequences of not having an agent who can contact reporters, broadcasters, or anyone else in the media who is saying anything negative about Jackson. During the weeks preceding the 2018 draft, for example, there was no one to push back on the likes of former G.M. Bill Polian, who was arguing that Jackson should switch to a different position. With no established agent to defend him and advocate for him, it's possibly one of the reasons the two-time MVP was available at the bottom of round one, where he was selected 22 spots after Josh Rosen.
Ultimately, Lamar Jackson is the only one who speaks on his behalf. And Lamar doesn't seem to ever be bothered by any noise that may emerge.
Humphrey may have realized after saying what he said that Jackson may not be thrilled that Humphrey said anything.
"I think anything relating to Lamar is the thing that I don't talk about," Humphrey said. "I think the only one that really does talk about [Lamar] is Lamar. I think if Lamar can play, it'd be great. If he doesn't, we got Snoop [Huntley]."
While there have been questions in past years regarding whether Jackson chose not to play while less than 100 percent at a time when he lacked the financial security of a new contract (which is smart), there hasn't been much if any criticism of Jackson during his latest absence. He obviously has an ankle injury and, although some reports described him as day-to-day, we reported on the day it happened that he's week-to-week.
Based on his participation in practice over the past two days, this could be the week Jackson returns. And Baltimore could use him; the 4-2 Ravens host the 3-2 Bengals on Sunday.