Ja’Kobi Lane has been the star of the show at Baltimore Ravens training camp. It’s really taking him no time at all to take people’s breath away. He’s looking like a superstar out there.
Of course, it’s only camp, and as a 2026 third-round pick, he’s inevitably going to hit the dreaded rookie wall. He also hasn’t been free from his fair share of mistakes. And to avoid those errors, sometimes you need a little support.
Lane got exactly that on Sunday. After Declan Doyle compared the rookie to former New Orleans Saints All-Pro wideout Michael Thomas, Lane spoke about what that means to him, even noting that Thomas is his G.O.A.T (greatest of all time). On X, Thomas replied to the interview clip that the Ravens posted, giving the USC product some words of encouragement.
you’re on your way I promise you. One day at a time it’s evident. 🤞🏾💪🏾
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) August 9, 2026
Baltimore Ravens rookie Ja’Kobi Lane receives praise and encouragement from Michael Thomas
If you claim someone can’t guard you like Lane and Thomas do in their X handles, you better back it up on the field. We all know Thomas did, as he put up an insane 76% catch rate on 743 targets throughout his career, and so far, Lane is proving he’s an unguardable target, too.
It feels like with every practice, you can almost guarantee that Lane will be one of the best players on the field. He’s already made several big highlight-reel catches, and in the process, he’s making opposing defensive backs look silly.
It’s kind of crazy to see Lane having so much success so quickly. He was only a third-rounder after all, and there were 13 wide receivers picked ahead of him in the 2026 NFL Draft. The expectations really weren’t that high coming into August, but he’s proving anyone who doubted him wrong.
If you’re a USC fan, though, you’re probably not shocked to see this whatsoever. He did this all the time as a Trojan. In fact, one-handed catches have been a bit of a staple of his game.
even when he’s not open… 🎱 is open@cantGuardJak1 pic.twitter.com/5yHfWlFYEj
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) March 30, 2025
And just like how Michael Thomas was unstoppable running slants over the middle, Lane is out to prove he’s more than just a contested-catch receiver. Declan Doyle has been giving him opportunities to prove himself over the middle of the field, and based on his comparison, Lane is starting to prove he can be a guy to turn to there, as well.
Obviously there’s still a lot for Lane to prove—camp highlights mean nothing if you can’t put it together in games. You can’t ignore his electric start, though, and maybe Thomas’ encouragement can give him the mental boost he needs to dominate in his rookie campaign.
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