There might be one human on Earth who can best simulate reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson when teams prepare for the Baltimore Ravens this season: Lamar Jackson.
With Jackson unavailable and preparing himself for Thursday’s kickoff game against the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), Andy Reid signed Bailey Zappe to prepare Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. Reid told reporters Sunday that Zappe has a tough act to follow after former practice-squad player Chris Oladokun helped Kansas City neutralize Jackson in the 2023 AFC Championship Game.
“Yeah, Bailey can do that,” Reid told reporters on Sunday. “We’ve always mixed guys in there when we have a chance of playing. There are some other guys that can jump in. We have a little plan for it. Not that any of them are as good as (Jackson)– Chris included. I mean, Chris did a nice job, but this kid (Jackson), he’s a special player. It’s very hard to mimic him.”
Zappe, New England’s fourth-round selection in the 2022 draft, signed a practice-squad contract with Kansas City after the Patriots waived him last month. As a rookie, he led the Patriots to wins over Detroit and Cleveland but lost all six starts last season. Zappe has 27 career carries for 83 yards (3.1 avg.) with one touchdown.