4 most important Ravens players who are not starters
By Kristen Wong
There’s no “I” in team, and there’s no “I” in Raven, either. The Baltimore Ravens 2022 squad consists of both superstars and benchwarmers alike, as every player on the roster has his own role to play.
The heroes of Baltimore don’t need to wear a disguise: Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, Ronnie Stanley, Marlon Humphrey, and other franchise mainstays have proved their value in years past and stand out as the ever-talented darlings of the franchise.
But every hero needs a sidekick, and there are plenty of caped crusaders on this Ravens team itching for an opportunity to make an impact in 2022.
Some are newly christened rookies, others serve as crucial depth pieces as premium positions, but all are ready to step up if need be and don a cap for a few games or for a stretch of the season.
Here are four of the most important Ravens players who are not starters in 2022.
Ravens’ Player No. 4: Tyler Huntley
Every team’s backup quarterback is by default important, but Tyler Huntley may prove more influential than most.
In four starts last season, Huntley won just one game and failed to lead the Ravens into the playoffs. No stretch of the season was more painful to watch than the Ravens’ last handful of games as Baltimore lost six straight to finish last place in the AFC North. Four of those six games were decided by two points or fewer.
While Huntley may not possess Lamar Jackson’s winning DNA, he still qualifies as an above-average quarterback capable of sustaining offensive drives and making big plays.
He’ll need to improve his touchdown-interception ratio this season and become a more accurate passer overall, but in a worst-case scenario in which Jackson goes down, Huntley can serve as the Ravens’ shining beacon of hope.
After getting sacked 18 times in seven games last year, Huntley should benefit from a retooled offensive line and be able to show off his dual-threat skills in clutch situations — he couldn’t string together wins last season, but he has the talent and a more reliable supporting cast this time around.
Hopefully, the Ravens don’t need to call on Huntley to step up for long stretches of the season, but it’s a blessing to have arguably the best backup QB in the league ready to play in case of emergency.