Lamar Jackson back at practice for start of Ravens' minicamp

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Lamar Jackson-to-Mark Andrews connection — the linchpin of Baltimore's offense last season — is back on the field.

As expected, Jackson was at practice Tuesday when the Ravens began mandatory minicamp. He'd been absent during voluntary OTAs.

“He looked great,” said Andrews, the team's star tight end. “You could just tell his energy, just how he feels, I think he's extremely confident, and the more he's out here just running the plays, being around the guys, we're just going to get better and better. It was awesome to see my guy, for sure.”

Jackson is expected to talk to reporters Thursday, so that's when he'll surely be asked about his absence from previous practices and his still-uncertain contract situation. For now, the Ravens are simply happy to have him working with the rest of the team.

“Back to business,” coach John Harbaugh said. “We're driving now. We're merging, we're rolling. Let's go to work.”

Jackson hasn't signed an extension with Baltimore as he enters his fifth-year option season. General manager Eric DeCosta has said the Ravens were working at Jackson's pace, and there hasn't been too much drama about it, but a star quarterback's decision to skip OTAs is always noteworthy.

That comes with the territory when you're the team's most important player.

“It's a different life when everything you do is looked at in a positive or negative light,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “Whether it's Shannon Sharpe or Skip (Bayless) or this guy talking, Stephen A. (Smith). I know that would get annoying if I was in those shoes, but I think he handled it really well, being how much media attention he gets.”

Although Jackson was back, the Ravens are still waiting for a few more players who