Lamar Jackson continues to seek to regain his best physical form this week so that he will be fit to face the Chicago Bears this Sunday in a game valid for Week 8 of the NFL season. In the last two games in which the starting quarterback was unavailable, the Baltimore Ravens opted to put their faith in Cooper Rush.
However, Rush’s performance left much to be desired, and his play greatly angered Ravens fans on various social media. Now, it appears that this dissatisfaction has also reached the offensive coordinators, as Tyler Huntley has been chosen to be the starting QB if Jackson is unavailable.
Ravens Plan to Give Huntley a Chance After Rush’s Failure in the Last Two Games
Jackson suffered a thigh injury (hamstring) and has been inactive for the last two games. The starting QB returned to training, participating in limited activities, but despite this return, there is no certainty about his full recovery from the pain before Sunday’s game.
According to Adam Schefter, head coach John Harbaugh admitted that there are still “uncertainties,” which has reopened the possibility for the reserves to compete for the starting position. In his absence, Rush was chosen for the last two games, but his performance was well below expectations, completing few passes and suffering easy interceptions. Because of this, Huntley emerges as an alternative with more mobility.
If Lamar Jackson cannot play Sunday, Ravens QB Tyler Huntley would be in line to be the potential replacement. Cooper Rush started the previous two games that Jackson missed.
pic.twitter.com/oblMEFVlxN— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 24, 2025
With Jackson on the field, the Ravens (who currently rank 26th in the PFSN Offense Impact metric with a 68.5 OFFi) gain a lot from his highly mobile and improvisational style of play, compensating for flaws in the offensive line. Without him, the offense collapsed in the last two games with very low production and significant losses against the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams.
It is important to note that Jackson’s eventual return does not solve all the problems of a team with obvious flaws in quarterback protection, offensive line, and offensive balance, with a record of only 1-5, needing to get back on the winning track to regain hope of reaching the playoffs.
Learn More About Tyler Huntley’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Huntley entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and has since been looking to establish himself with the Ravens. Although he is not a dual-threat quarterback at the highest level of mobility, Huntley demonstrates good mobility to escape pressure, move outside the pocket, or gain yards by running when necessary, a characteristic very similar to Jackson’s.
In addition, Huntley feels more comfortable than Rush on short or medium routes, with quick throws or on the move, which helps especially when the offensive plan adapts to him. There is also greater confidence in making decisions outside the pocket when the offensive scheme requires it, recognizing the pressure to escape without suffering sacks or interceptions.
On the other hand, he does not have the same strength or arm length as elite NFL QBs, which considerably limits his impact on deep passes. Another problem is his delay in decision-making in situations that require greater attention against blitzes.
