Ravens QB Tyler Huntley out of protocol, likely to start vs. Browns

On Dec 15, 2022

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (2) slips away from Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the second half of an NFL football game at FirstEnergy Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]

BEREA − The big mystery of who will start for the Baltimore Ravens at quarterback when they play at the Browns on Saturday may be close to being solved.

The Ravens, as expected, ruled out Lamar Jackson for the second consecutive game due to a knee injury. However they listed no game-status designation on Jackson’s backup, Tyler Huntley, making it likely he’ll be the starter.

Huntley’s status early in the week had been in doubt due to a concussion he sustained in last Sunday’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, he was a full practice participant the last two days, and told Baltimore reporters on Thursday that he had cleared the concussion protocol on Wednesday.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh refused to specifically name Huntley the starter for Saturday’s game when asked on Thursday. However, his statement seemed to make clear he would be going with the third-year pro out of Utah.

“As far as injuries, I’m not really going to talk too much about that,” Harbugh said. “It’s going to be on the injury report; it will be straightforward when you see the injury report, in terms of who’s what. That will be our statement on it.”

The Browns have talked all week about preparing for any possibility from the Ravens at quarterback. However, Jackson never seemed likely to play due to the injury.

Huntley isn’t an unfamiliar to the Browns. In some ways, he’s just as much an issue as Jackson is with his ability to run.

“God d*** he’s fast,” defensive end Myles Garrett said of Huntley. “He’s fast, he’s elusive. He’s a lot of the things that Lamar is really, he just needs a little bit more polish and I think he could be that capable of a player if he gets a chance somewhere. But I mean it just felt like you were trying to chase down a chicken with, like, I don’t know, doused in honey or something.”

The Browns saw Huntley the last time Baltimore came to Cleveland, on Dec. 12 of last year. He came on in the second quarter after Jackson sustained a season-ending ankle injury to nearly erase a 17-0 deficit in what ended up a 24-22 Browns win.

Huntley was 27-of-38 passing for 270 yards and a touchdown against the Browns. He also ran for 45 yards on six carries.