Oct 12, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (5) scrambles with the ball against the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter of the game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

Ravens Backup QBs Earn Wildly Different Week 6 Grades

Originally posted on Baltimore Ravens on SI
By Henry Brown | Last updated Oct 15, 2025 1:00 PM ET

The Baltimore Ravens' backup quarterbacks already face a tough-enough jobs as reserves, having to constantly remain ready to take command of an NFL offense while also trying to replicate the production of one of the league's best players in Lamar Jackson. It's a thankless task and a halfway-unrealistic ask, and the two men they trotted out last weekend turned in drastically different results.

The 17-3 loss they took to sink them further into their 1-5 record won't show a big difference between Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley, the pair of Jackson substitutes that head coach John Harbaugh threw into the fray against the Los Angeles Rams, but Huntley provided visibly more juice when he pulled Rush near the disastrous game's end. Bleacher Report agreed with the eye test, and handed the second- and third-stringers two very different grades in their Week 6 roundup.

"Cooper Rush didn't throw a single touchdown during the last three games. Instead, he provided four interceptions. During the last two outings, the Ravens' previous QB2 led one touchdown drive," Brett Sobleski wrote. "Head coach John Harbaugh decided to make a change after Rush committed his second turnover against the Rams.

"The Ravens began moving the ball with Tyler Huntley behind center. Huntley is clearly better suited to the offense, to the point where he should move into the role as Jackson's primary backup."

Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Rush didn't do himself any favors in attempting to retain the role of Jackson's direct backup, throwing four interceptions without any touchdowns to his name through his two games as the spot starter.

Even if Huntley similarly failed in his own shortened quest to add more than three points to the Ravens' score, he nearly matched Rush's production in considerably fewer snaps with his ability to scramble and extend plays, helping Baltimore's offense look a lot closer to how it would under Jackson's watch.

"As of now, Jackson is expected back from his hamstring injury after next week's bye. If not, Huntley should get the nod as the starter," Knox concluded.

He earned a B for his limited time under center, providing a previously-lifeless scoring attack with more energy than the fans have seen since Jackson went down with his hamstring injury. Rush, meanwhile, was stuck with an F, tying him with regular bottom-feeders in Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins, Justin Fields of the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns' Dillon Gabriel for the lowest marks of the roundup.

This article first appeared on Baltimore Ravens on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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