Lamar Jackson is nearing a return. He was limited all week and is still feeling the effects of his high ankle sprain from Week 4, but he’s at least made a Week 7 start possible. He’s officially listed as questionable.
Jackson could very well sit for that matchup, though. He said it himself: his ankle is still in pain. That’ll keep the pressure on Tyler Huntley as we get closer to Sunday’s game. And Huntley can’t afford another letdown.
Last Sunday wasn’t even close to good enough. Huntley’s forgettable showing wasted a defensive masterclass, and if that game ended in a loss to the Cleveland Browns, it’ll create a problem against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tyler Huntley can’t let Week 6 woes turn into a lasting trend if he gets the start vs. Bengals
Whether it’s Lamar Jackson or Tyler Huntley, the Ravens shouldn’t have trouble against the Bengals’ defense. They’ve struggled over the last several seasons, and excluding a strong two-game stretch to kick off 2026, they’ve continued to have issues. Over the past three games, Cincinnati has allowed 355 yards per game and 155.3 on the ground.
Sure, their secondary looks better, but that run defense against Baltimore’s rushing attack is exploitable. Either Jackson or Huntley should do enough to put points on the board.
It’ll actually be more about keeping up with the Bengals’ offense. No unit does more damage to a Ravens defense than Cincinnati’s. Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins. Those guys give Baltimore fans nightmares.
If Huntley takes the field on Sunday and puts up numbers like last week, the Ravens will be in a world of trouble. He only threw for 165 yards and a touchdown and put 10 points on the board in Cleveland. It’ll probably only take the Bengals a few drives to match that.
And while on paper, Huntley didn’t commit any back-breaking errors in Week 6, he got away with a lot. You could count at least three dropped interceptions; his ability to avoid negative plays was seemingly gone; and he was off target, completing 61.3% of passes.
Huntley also doesn’t have the arm talent and explosive tendencies to keep up with Burrow and company. If the Ravens get behind, there’s a real fear Huntley wouldn’t be able to catch up after last week’s showing. We need to see more of the Tyler Huntley who led a comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5.
Tyler Huntley needs to do more to retain backup QB job
Something bigger might be at stake for Huntley, as well: his future.
Huntley signed an extension last offseason and is under contract through 2027. However, that was before Joe Fagnano came around in the preseason. Baltimore uncovered an undrafted sensation.
Fagnano was one of the most productive players in August. He made throws with precision, showed poise in the pocket, and delivered balls in stride to set up receivers after the catch.
The UConn product may lack lethal arm talent, but his mechanics could be far better. His ability to throw with anticipation is also a trait Huntley hasn’t shown.
Obviously, Baltimore wouldn’t make the backup QB switch in the middle of the season. Huntley’s a veteran with 18 career starts — regardless of how fans feel, you’re going to stick with the experienced signal-caller over the undrafted rookie.
If Huntley can’t pick it up, though, you could make a real case for Fagnano to be the guy next year and moving forward. The Ravens rarely keep three quarterbacks on their roster — they kept a third this time around. Fagnano might be different, and he may make a run for the backup gig if Huntley’s struggles carry on.
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