Baltimore Ravens backup quarterback Anthony Brown will make his first career start on Sunday against the host Cincinnati Bengals, with the team making Tyler Huntley inactive.
Huntley started the past four games with Lamar Jackson continuing to deal with a lingering injury.
NFL Network reported that the Ravens are sitting Huntley to give his shoulder and wrist injuries time to recover for the wild-card round of the playoffs next weekend, just in case Jackson can't return.
Veteran Brett Hundley will back up Brown.
The Ravens (10-6) have clinched a playoff spot but have something on the line against the Bengals (11-4). Should both the Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers win, the NFL will conduct a coin flip to determine whether the Ravens or Bengals will host a wild-card game between the two teams. The NFL owners approved the unique solution because the Bengals won't play a full 17-game season.
The game between the Bengals and Bills was canceled on Monday following the serious medical situation involving Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin, who went into cardiac arrest on the field.
He continues to recover in a Cincinnati hospital.
Brown, 24, played in Week 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers after Huntley sustained a concussion. He completed 3 of 5 passes for 16 yards. As a runner, he carried the ball three times and lost 5 yards.
He is an undrafted rookie free agent. He played three seasons at Boston College and then two at Oregon. In 2021, he threw for 2,989 yards, ran for 658 yards and registered a combined 28 touchdowns for the Ducks.
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