Ravens' Lamar Jackson Says 'I Hate Running' After Amazing Highlights vs. Chiefs

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson can arguably be considered the most dangerous running quarterback in NFL history in just his second season, but the 22-year-old revealed Wednesday that he'd much rather throw the ball.

In fact, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley, Jackson said he despises tucking the football and taking off even though it is one of his greatest assets: "I hate running. Only if I have to, but my job is to get the ball to the receivers, the tight ends, running backs. If I have to run, I'll do it, but I'd rather just sit back and pass it. I like throwing touchdowns instead of running them."

Jackson's comments come after a Week 3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs during which he rushed for 46 yards and a touchdown, and he made the Kansas City defense look silly on a few occasions:

Jackson has rushed for 172 yards through three games this season, and in 19 career NFL regular-season games (10 starts), he has 867 rushing yards to his credit.

When Baltimore selected the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, there was little doubt regarding his running ability. Many pundits questioned whether he could be a quality passer at the next level, however.

That is despite the fact that Jackson threw for 3,543 yards and 30 touchdowns during his Heisman campaign at Louisville in addition to rushing for 1,571 yards and 21 scores.

While Jackson went 6-1 as a starter last season, he didn't do much as a passer, completing 58.2 percent of his attempts for 1,201 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions.

Through just three games this year, though, Jackson has already silenced many of his critics. He has improved markedly as a passer and is completing 63 percent of his throws for 863 yards, seven touchdowns and no picks.

Jackson is ninth in the NFL in passing yardage and tied for fourth in passing touchdowns, which suggests he has truly arrived as a dual threat.

After going 17-of-20 for 324 yards and five touchdowns in the season opener against the Miami Dolphins, Jackson has understandable come back down to earth since then. From a passing perspective, the loss to Kansas City was clearly his toughest outing thus far in 2019, as he completed just 51.1 percent of his throws for 267 yards, no touchdowns and no picks.

That was bound to happen against a higher level of competition after going off against two of the NFL's worst teams in Miami and the Arizona Cardinals.

Sunday's home game against the Cleveland Browns will arguably be the best test yet for Jackson. Cleveland was a trendy preseason pick to win the AFC North, but it has struggled to a 1-2 start, and the Ravens can put the Browns in a tough spot with a win.

Also, the Browns selected quarterback Baker Mayfield with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, while Jackson closed out the first round of that draft at No. 32.

Much of the attention and accolades were given to Mayfield last season and entering 2019, but Jackson can make the case for being the top quarterback from the 2018 draft class thus far by outplaying Mayfield on Sunday.