The Baltimore Ravens fell to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday by a final score of 24-22, but after the game, the concern was more with quarterback Lamar Jackson than the outcome of the matchup.
Jackson was forced to exit the game early in the second quarter with an apparent lower-leg injury. Following the game, head coach John Harbaugh confirmed that Jackson had suffered an ankle sprain, although the severity was unknown.
At the moment, the indication seems to be that Jackson’s injury is a low-ankle sprain and not a high-ankle sprain. And that would probably be the best-case scenario for both Jackson and the Ravens.
A high-ankle sprain could sideline him for weeks, perhaps even the rest of the regular season if it was severe enough. But with a low-ankle sprain, Jackson might not have to miss much time at all.
Still, with just two healthy quarterbacks under contract, the Ravens will likely look to sign someone. Now, Tyler Huntley should be the starter going forward — that much probably won’t change.
But do the Ravens really trust Chris Streveler, only recently signed to the practice squad after being waived by the Arizona Cardinals, as Huntley’s backup? That much remains to be seen.
Either way, if Jackson is forced to miss any time, the Ravens will sign a third quarterback. Whether that quarterback serves as Huntley’s backup or gets thrown onto the practice squad is uncertain.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at six quarterbacks the Ravens could sign if Lamar Jackson’s injury forces him to the sideline.
6. Ravens QB target: Blake Bortles
Yes, the options are pretty slim folks. It isn’t easy to find a capable quarterback just waiting to be signed in mid-Decemeber. But at the very least, Blake Bortles has experience and he has the advantage of having been on an NFL roster this year.
Bortles made 73 career starts over five years in Jacksonville and, while his career eventually faded, he did serve as a backup for the Los Angeles Rams in 2019.
He spent time with the Denver Broncos and Rams again in 2020, although he hasn’t appeared in an NFL game in roughly two years. That said, he had a brief stint on the Green Back Packers active roster last month after Aaron Rodgers’ COVID-19 debacle.
The Ravens find themselves in a tricky situation and they could probably do worse than a talented (but super volatile) quarterback with nearly 75 career starts under his belt. But they could probably do a whole lot better too.
5. Ravens QB target: Brett Hundley
Another former Packers quarterback, Brett Hundley has bounced around the NFL serving as a low-end backup quarterback since making nine starts for Green Bay back in 2017.
The former fifth-round pick has also had stints with the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, and most recently the Indianapolis Colts. He’s currently on the Colts’ practice squad after being released early last month.
Hundley has the mobility to thrive in the Ravens’ system and could be a capable backup to Huntley while Jackson recovers.
4. Ravens QB target: Kenji Bahar
The Ravens could simply opt to go the familiar route and bring back local product Kenji Bahar once again. Bahar, an undrafted rookie, spent much of the summer with the Ravens and was briefly brought back when Trace McSorley was claimed off the Ravens’ practice squad.
Bahar is, of course, limited in what he can do. In reality, he’s not an NFL-caliber quarterback and likely never will be. But he does know the system and can play in a pinch.
Plus he’s a Calvert Hall product that would make for one incredible feel-good story if he ever actually found his way onto the field. Re-signing Bahar to the practice squad is probably the most likely move.
3. Ravens QB target: Nick Mullens
It’s a little surprising to see Nick Mullens on a practice squad after he’s proved on numerous occasions that he can be a competent NFL backup quarterback.
Yet, Mullens remains on the Browns’ practice squad after being waived by the Philadelphia Eagles before the season started. The former undrafted free agent has made 16 career starts throwing for 25 touchdowns and 22 interceptions while completing over 64 percent of his passes.
The Ravens just got a close look at Mullens on the sideline this week and they could look to pull a fast one on their division rivals by stealing him off their practice squad.
2. Ravens QB target: Robert Griffin III
This one is obviously a longshot. A Robert Griffin III/Ravens reunion remains unlikely for a number of reasons, but it is still technically possible.
Griffin has been working as an analyst with ESPN since the summer and could very well be done with the NFL. However, he’s indicated that he would be open to a return if a team came calling.
Could that team be the Ravens? It’s unlikely given the rust Griffin would be forced to shake off, especially if Jackson only misses a game or two.
But if Jackson’s injury is worse than the team feared and he misses over a month, re-signing Griffin might just make some sense. At the very least, it’d make a good story.
1. Ravens QB target: Josh Johnson
Josh Johnson is probably the perfect player for the Ravens to sign if Lamar Jackson is forced to miss time. The well-traveled journeyman quarterback proved a few weeks back that he still can ball.
Johnson played essentially a full game with the New York Jets in Week 9 when starter Mike White went down with an injury early in the first quarter. The 35-year-old finished 27-of-41 for 317 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception.
That alone should leave plenty of teams interested. And Johnson just so happens to fit the Ravens’ scheme like a glove.
Even at 35-years-old, Johnson is still one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the league meaning the team wouldn’t need to change much if Huntley was injured.
Don’t underestimate the value of experience and scheme fit. Plus Josh Johnson is still a pretty good football player, even in the year 2021.