The Baltimore Ravens are likely to be without various starters in Week 5 against the Houston Texans, and one of those is expected to be quarterback Lamar Jackson. Head Coach John Harbaugh has yet to provide an update on the two-time MVP’s status for Sunday, but reports from ESPN and The Baltimore Sun project Jackson's availability to be in doubt.
Backup quarterback Cooper Rush should be in line to start against Houston. Rush signed with the Ravens in the offseason on a two-year $6.2 million contract. He was under center for Baltimore’s last three drives of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs after Jackson exited with a hamstring injury.
In two of the drives, the offense turned the ball over on downs, and the other saw running back Justice Hill take one 71 yards to the house. Rush finished the day completing nine of his 13 passes for 52 yards. He also contributed to one of the turnovers, throwing the ball away on a fourth-and-two play at their own 24-yard line.
It was not a very pretty Baltimore debut for Rush, but everyone knows he is capable of coming in for relief of an injured quarterback. He made a living off of it with the Dallas Cowboys and appears ready to do so again. Star tight end Mark Andrews gave him a vote of confidence in his press conference on Wednesday.
“He’s a pro’s pro. He really dove into this offense and understands it extremely well,” Andrews said. “There’s a reason why he’s been in the league for nine years. He’s a really good player.”
Ravens have the utmost confidence in Cooper Rush
Heading into Week 5, Rush carries a record of 9-5 as a starter. He has been one of the more consistent backup quarterbacks in the NFL in recent years, and Baltimore’s under-the-radar offseason move could pay off big time.
Although it is a big moment for Rush, Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken should ease the 31-year-old into the offense and let running back Derrick Henry run the show. Rush is capable of moving the football through the air and keeping defenses honest, but Henry should see around 20 to 25 carries on Sunday.
The Ravens will need to make the most of an unfortunate situation, and they can do that by getting their rushing attack back on track. Ever since their Week 1 loss that saw them run rampant on the Buffalo Bills for 238 rushing yards, they have not imposed their dominant running game on opponents for all four quarters.
Against a struggling team like the Texans, Rush needs to keep the ball out of harm’s way, throw with accuracy, and let the rushing attack find a rhythm. He should put the Ravens in a favorable position to win if he does so.