Lamar Jackson is on pace to finish with over 1,200 rushing yards – the most ever by a quarterback. Is this a sustainable business model? Or is he a serious injury waiting to happen?

Another running quarterback, after all, was shelved for the season this week, with Cam Newton placed on injured reserve as he waits to heal from a foot injury. Newton has been heavily used as a runner for years.

Jackson is an athletic guy, I’ll give him that. Like some other running quarterbacks – Newton, Michael Vick, Terrelle Pryor – he’s enough of an athlete that he could play another position if he wanted. Jackson is thicker than Robert Griffin III, for example. I remember seeing Jackson in one of his first preseason games; he lowered his head and took on a defensive back – I was wondering if they were going to flag him for a penalty (with that being a point of emphasis in the preseason that year).

Jackson has held up OK thus far. After taking over at midseason last year, he started eight games without issue. (That’s including a playoff game; in the chart below, I added on Jackson’s playoff start from last year so that he would appear for both 2018 and 2019.).

Since 2000, we have seen 53 quarterbacks start at least half of the season and average 30 rushing yards (in those games). Of the 46 in the 2000-17 season, 56 percent of those quarterbacks came back and started at least 14 games the following season. About a third (15 of 46) didn’t play more than half the season. But seven of those guys didn’t start at all (so they didn’t get hurt, but simply weren’t starters for various reasons).

Thus far, the rushing numbers Jackson has put up are amazing. He’s averaged over 75 rushing yards per game in both of his seasons. No other quarterback has averaged 65 yards, and only three have gone over 60 – Vick (twice) and Pryor.

Jackson’s matchup today is almost too good to be true. The Ravens lead the league in rushing. The Bengals rank last in run defense.

QUARTERBACKS AVERAGING 30 RUSHING YARDS
YearPlayerStYardsTDRYPGNext Yr
2019Lamar Jackson, Balt.8637579.6?-?-?
2018Lamar Jackson, Balt.8610476.3?-?-?
2006Michael Vick, Atl.161,039264.90-0-0
2013Terrelle Pryor, Oak.9553261.40-0-0
2004Michael Vick, Atl.15902360.115-597-6
2011Tim Tebow, Den.11623556.60-0-0
2018Josh Allen, Buff.11605855.0?-?-?
2012Robert Griffin III, Wash.15815754.313-489-0
2014Russell Wilson, Sea.16849653.116-553-1
2010Michael Vick, Phil.11573952.113-589-1
2002Michael Vick, Atl.15777851.84-239-1
2017Cam Newton, Car.16754647.114-488-4
2012Cam Newton, Car.16741846.316-585-6
2002Donovan McNabb, Phil.10460646.016-355-3
2011Michael Vick, Phil.13589145.310-332-1
2011Cam Newton, Car.167061444.116-741-8
2016Colin Kaepernick, S.F.11468242.50-0-0
2006Vince Young, Tenn.13528740.615-395-3
2015Tyrod Taylor, Buff.14568440.615-580-6
2014Colin Kaepernick, S.F.16639139.98-256-1
2005Michael Vick, Atl.15597639.816-1039-2
2015Cam Newton, Car.166361039.815-359-5
2000Donovan McNabb, Phil.16629639.316-482-2
2016Tyrod Taylor, Buff.15580638.714-389-3
2014Cam Newton, Car.14539538.516-636-10
2002Daunte Culpepper, Minn.166091038.114-422-4
2001Daunte Culpepper, Minn.11416537.816-609-10
2013Robert Griffin III, Wash.13489037.67-130-1
2000Kordell Stewart, Pitt.11404636.716-537-5
2017Russell Wilson, Sea.16586336.616-376-0
2013Cam Newton, Car.16585636.614-539-5
2000Cade McNown, Chi.9323335.90-0-0
2019Deshaun Watson, Hou.8279534.9?-?-?
2018Cam Newton, Car.14488434.92--2-0
2019Kyler Murray, Ariz.9313234.8?-?-?
2015Russell Wilson, Sea.16553134.616-259-2
2018Deshaun Watson, Hou.16551534.4?-?-?
2013Russell Wilson, Sea.16539133.716-849-6
2001Kordell Stewart, Pitt.16537533.65-180-2
2012Michael Vick, Phil.10332133.26-308-2
2000Rich Gannon, Oak.16529433.116-231-2
2013Colin Kaepernick, S.F.16524432.816-639-1
2015Colin Kaepernick, S.F.8256132.011-468-2
1999Doug Flutie, Buff.15476131.75-83-1
2008Tyler Thigpen, K.C.11343231.20-0-0
2015Alex Smith, K.C.16498231.115-134-5
1999Steve McNair, Tenn.11337830.615-396-0
2012Russell Wilson, Sea.16489430.616-539-1
2003Daunte Culpepper, Minn.14422430.116-406-2
2001Donovan McNabb, Phil.16482230.110-460-6
2001Rob Johnson, Buff.8241130.12-46-0
2018Mitchell Trubisky, Chi.14421330.1?-?-?
2017Brett Hundley, G.B.9270230.00-0-0

—Ian Allan