ESPN: The Bills have signed a former Ravens quarterback to practice mimicking Lamar Jackson.
The Baltimore Ravens’ trip to upstate New York to play the Buffalo Bills on Sunday is expected to be one of the most anticipated NFL Divisional Round games in years. Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, the two front-runners for MVP, are in charge of the two squads. Each club is viewed as the greatest danger to the Kansas City Chiefs, the AFC’s king, in large part because both quarterbacks guided their teams to top three offenses. Sean McDermott, the coach of the Bills, praised Jackson when he was questioned about keeping the reigning MVP contained.
“Lamar Jackson is ultimately just one person. You attempt to replicate that as best you can, and good luck.” In reference to the Bills’ interesting personnel change before to the game, McDermott was being literal. The organization added quarterback Anthony Brown, who was Jackson’s teammate with the Ravens in 2022, to the practice squad. After spending the offseason with the Bills, Brown was cut and played the rest of the season with the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad.
Brown is able to replicate Jackson as closely as possible in practice because of more than just his affiliation with the Ravens. Brown, a dual-threat quarterback, rushed for 658 yards and nine touchdowns during his last season at Oregon. As such, McDermott acknowledged. “What Anthony brings to the table is both – throw it and run it.. there is more of a true, honest look.” Refer to him as “Lamar Jackson Lite.”
Brown has only played in two NFL games, both for the Ravens in 2022. In their Week 18 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he even started in Jackson’s place. Brown completed 19 of his 44 throws against a Bengals squad vying for a postseason spot. He was twice intercepted and was unable to reach the end zone. Interestingly, after being dismissed four times, he didn’t try to score a single run. Of all the quarterbacks on the roster, Brown should give the Bills’ defense the appearance that most closely resembles Jackson’s. He’s not Lamar Jackson, as McDermott said, but then, no one is.
