Hendrickson got quite the deal by the Ravens. Now, the Ravens have released quarterback Cooper Rush, per NBC Sports. The Ravens also re-signed Snoop Huntley to become Lamar Jackson’s backup. Rush had signed a two-year deal, but after just one, his time in Baltimore is up.

Huntley played for the Ravens from his rookie year in 2020 to 2023. He played six games in 2022, starting four of them and that earned him a Pro Bowl selection. After spending the 2024 season in Miami, he went back to Baltimore last year, and it seems like he beat Rush in the QB2 competition.

Huntley had a massive advantage over Rush

Rush is years older than Huntley, but the real disadvantage he faced is his style compared to Huntley’s. Being the backup of Lamar Jackson is no easy feat. He is the fastest, must mobile QB in the NFL. Rush is a pure pocket passer, not that mobile, so when he steps in, the playbook must dramatically change.

As for, Huntley, he is like a mini version of Jackson. He is mobile, he runs quite a lot and the playbook can remain almost exactly the same. Hence, it’s an easier transition. After all, Lamar has missed games in all but one season. Usually, the backup will need to step up for a couple of games.

Baltimore has plenty of cap space to work

After restructuring Lamar Jackson’s contract, signing Trey Hendrickson, and ditching the Crosby trade, Baltimore is in quite a great position. On the Lamar Jackson side of things, that freed up nearly $40 million in cap space. And without the Crosby trade, they kept this year’s and next year’s first round picks.

Hence, now the Ravens have plenty of room to move and keep building their roster. The Ravens are in prime position to continue bringing big-time names as they hope to go on a Super Bowl trip for once in Jackson’s career.

“Nothing against Cooper,” Harbaugh said. “Cooper is a great guy and played good football for us, but Tyler was the answer for today’s game. It wasn’t a hard decision.” This is how the head coach explained and justified his choice of Huntley for the game.

Huntley performed well in the victory, throwing 17 completed passes for 186 yards with an average of 8.5 yards per pass. He threw one touchdown without any interceptions and was sacked only twice for a minimal loss of 8 yards. It was a very good outing for him compared to his previous struggles against the Rams.

Huntley returned thanks to Harbaugh

Tyler Huntley’s return to the Ravens came after he took the initiative this summer. “Tyler Huntley said he texted John Harbaugh this summer and asked him to call him. Harbaugh called immediately, which led to Huntley returning to the Ravens and Baltimore winning a big game on Sunday,” Jamison Hensley reported regarding Huntley’s comments on his return to Baltimore.

Harbaugh didn’t just explain his decision to use Huntley over Rush; following the game, he offered profound praise. With the quarterback by his side, Harbaugh said something significant about Huntley: “I don’t think he can play any better than that. That was one of those all-time great performances,” before adding, “I’m so proud of you.”

When could Lamar Jackson return?

There is still no official date for his return, but a report from Adam Schefter suggests Jackson is expected to be available to play on Thursday night against Miami, which would be a favorable opportunity against a struggling team like the Dolphins.

“He is expected to go Thursday night against Miami. Then again, he was expected to go today, in John Harbaugh’s opinion a couple weeks ago and he didn’t. But I think they believe that he will be there Thursday night,” Schefter said on ESPN.

What are the specific reasons why the former Louisville standout won’t see the field? Jackson still hasn’t fully recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered against the Chiefs a few weeks ago, and as a result, Cooper Rush will once again get the start under center.

With no specific timeline for his official return, according to insider Tom Pelissero, the Ravens remain hopeful that Jackson will be ready to go after next week’s bye.

“The #Ravens are hopeful star QB Lamar Jackson (hamstring) can return after next week’s bye. First, they have to figure out how to get the offense going with backup Cooper Rush against the #Rams to avoid a 1-5 start,” he reported via @TomPelissero.

The trust placed in Rush

The Baltimore Ravens will once more entrust backup quarterback Cooper Rush to navigate their offense, as star QB Lamar Jackson has officially been ruled out for today’s crucial contest against the Los Angeles Rams with a nagging hamstring injury.

Head Coach John Harbaugh confirmed the move, placing confidence in the veteran backup despite a rocky outing last week. With Jackson sidelined for the second consecutive game, the 1-4 Ravens are betting that Rush’s experience will be enough to generate a much-needed win and keep their already spiraling season afloat.

Recovering quickly

The Baltimore Ravens enter today’s home matchup against the Los Angeles Rams facing a crisis of confidence and a brutal historical precedent. Slumped at a discouraging 1-4, John Harbaugh‘s squad must treat this Week 6 contest as a playoff game, because falling to 1-5 effectively seals their 2025 season fate.

NFL history shows that teams starting with five losses have less than an 8% chance of reaching the postseason. Without their starting quarterback, the Ravens are running out of lifelines, making a victory over the powerful Rams absolutely critical to avoid seeing their Super Bowl aspirations fade into the early autumn darkness.

The task ahead won’t be easy at all. Overcoming a 1-4 record with the Los Angeles Rams looming on the horizon won’t come without challenges. Playing at home in the M&T Bank Stadium could offer some advantage, but John Harbaugh’s team will need to raise their level exponentially.

Rush, who had to take over as the team’s starting quarterback following Lamar Jackson’s injury, spoke to the media ahead of this crucial matchup and revealed the key area the team needs to improve if they want to start getting better results.

“We’re just looking to – we have to be more efficient, on first and second down, especially, and get more manageable third downs,” the quarterback said, according to the team’s website.

“We were able to convert on a few kind of longer ones, but those are hard, those are rare. Just more efficiency, overall, to get us going.”

Jackson’s impactful absence

The Baltimore Ravens‘ Super Bowl aspirations have been severely jeopardized by the ongoing absence of quarterback Lamar Jackson due to a hamstring injury.

Without their two-time MVP and the architect of their dynamic offense, the team’s attack has stalled, struggling to produce the explosive plays that define their identity.

Currently spiraling with a losing record, Jackson’s uncertain return timeline casts a deep shadow over Baltimore’s playoff hopes, underscoring just how indispensable the electrifying star is to the franchise’s success.

What’s next for the Ravens?

With their main goal now being to get their NFL season back on track and rejoin the group of contenders in the AFC North, here are the upcoming games the Ravens have ahead of them:

• vs Los Angeles Rams, October 12
• Bye Week
• vs Chicago Bears, October 26
• @ Miami Dolphins, October 30
• @ Minnesota Vikings, November 9

Tough news hit the Ravens today. After suffering a hamstring injury on Sunday, reports confirmed that Lamar Jackson will miss between two and three weeks, according to the Baltimore Sun.

This is a significant loss for Baltimore, as the team’s offensive game plan heavily relies on Jackson’s athleticism. While the AFC North club remains solid overall, his absence has a major impact on their chances of competing for the division title.

Lamar Jackson injured: Who is the Ravens’ backup quarterback?

Following his hamstring injury in Sunday’s game against the Chiefs, Lamar Jackson was sidelined in favor of Cooper Rush. While experienced, Rush’s mobility is nowhere near Jackson’s level, which will require adjustments to the Ravens’ offense.

Cooper Rush joined the Ravens this offseason after spending seven seasons with the Cowboys. He has mostly served as a backup but stepped in as Dallas’ starter when Dak Prescott suffered injuries in 2022 and 2024.

The former Central Michigan quarterback has played in 40 games, starting 14 of them. He has completed 339 passes out of 557 attempts for 3,515 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

Behind Cooper Rush, who?

As of now, the Ravens have not made any additional roster moves following Lamar Jackson’s injury. On the team’s depth chart, Cooper Rush is the only available quarterback for Week 5.

However, the Ravens are expected to add another quarterback. While there is confidence in Rush, the team needs a backup in case of injury or unexpected issues during his starts.

Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter both reported on Jackson’s injury, with Schefter noting it was a hamstring issue affecting the Ravens quarterback. Baltimore is now left with Rush, who doesn’t bring the same versatility Jackson provides.

After the game, John Harbaugh provided an update on Lamar Jackson and other injured players, stating, “Nothing looks like a season-ending by any stretch for anybody. But we’ll have to look at those injuries tomorrow and see where we’re at going forward.”

It was obvious the Ravens would struggle without their starting quarterback; backup Cooper did what he could but failed to score a touchdown or spark the offense. The team ultimately lost 20-37, marking their third defeat of the season and leaving Harbaugh and the entire organization in a tough spot.

Harsh Criticism Against Jackson

Despite the reported injury, the public had no pity for Jackson. Critics severely lashed out, arguing that the quarterback routinely disappears in important games and suggesting his injury was merely an excuse to avoid humiliation against the Chiefs.

Nick Wright of X was among the critics, commenting, “Lamar has basically gone 2 years without making that exact type of mistake, except for in the ‘23 AFCCG, ‘24 Divisional Round, and just now against KC. Probably a coincidence.”

With Cowboys fans eager to avoid another setback, Jones is working closely with the front office to build a strong roster around Prescott. The team has already made some notable additions, including the signing of a former Super Bowl champion who played with the Eagles last season.

Since then, multiple reports have surfaced regarding Prescott’s backup and a potential contract extension for Micah Parsons. Rush emerged as a possible option, but he ultimately chose to join the Ravens, where he’ll back up Lamar Jackson for the upcoming season.

Now, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, quarterback Joe Milton will join the Cowboys for the 2025 season. “Trade: New England is sending QB Joe Milton to the Dallas Cowboys, sources tell ESPN. With Cooper Rush heading to Baltimore, Dallas now has a new backup for Dak Prescott,” Schefter wrote on his X account.

A threat or a support for Prescott in the Cowboys?

The addition of former Patriots quarterback to the Cowboys roster could spark an interesting competition with Dak Prescott for the starting job. However, it’s not because of the limited playing time Milton had with the Patriots last season, he only appeared in one game, but rather the level of play he showcased in that game and the surrounding buzz.

While Prescott’s commitment to the Cowboys is undoubtedly valued, he will remain the team’s leader. The only way Milton could challenge Prescott’s position would be if the Cowboys’ starter were to suffer an injury. Otherwise, Milton will likely find himself on the bench for the majority of games.

Jones’ search for new talent in the NFL Draft

Milton’s addition could be a key asset to new head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s game plan, especially following Rush’s departure to the Ravens. Cowboys owner made it clear that he’s looking for players to fill any position in the upcoming NFL Draft.

“When you’re sitting there and you get an opportunity, if you’re doing your job, you’ve considered all possibilities, looked at your roster now and in the years to come. So all of those factors really make it wide open, by position, to draft a player,“ Jones said in an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Jon Machota.

A few days ago, the news broke about Rush’s arrival to the Ravens, after having worked alongside Dak Prescott for several years. The former Central Michigan player sees his move to Baltimore as a step forward in his career and showed excitement about this opportunity.

In a recent appearance on the franchise’s podcast, The Lounge, Rush expressed his satisfaction with this new adventure and shared his excitement upon hearing the news of his trade.

“It kind of came out of nowhere, and [I] was super excited when my agent said the Ravens called,“ Rush said. “Obviously, from afar there in Dallas, you see the Ravens are a well-run, good organization. Obviously, tons of success, especially recently. So, I was like, wow, O.K., this is sweet. It materialized, and here we are.”

“It’s really exciting to be on a good team,” the QB also added. “You get to 9–5, we had some good teams down there in Dallas, so you don’t have to play out of yourself. You can play within yourself, do your job, rely on your teammates, and I think you have a similar situation here. Really good offense. Just kind of go do your job, get the ball to the fast guys, let them work, and do whatever you need to do to go win.”

Rush’s agreement with the Ravens

While both the front office and the coaching staff are betting on Lamar Jackson having a smooth season physically, maintaining the level he’s accustomed to, the addition of Cooper Rush is a clear indication that they don’t want to leave anything to chance.

Last Sunday, NFL insider Adam Schefter reported through his official X (formerly Twitter) account the arrival of the former Dallas Cowboys player as Jackson’s new backup.

“A new backup for Lamar Jackson: former Cowboys free-agent QB Cooper Rush reached agreement today on a two-year contract worth up to $12.2 million with the Baltimore Ravens, per me and @JFowlerESPN.”

Hopkins is also excited to work with Lamar

Another standout move ahead of the upcoming NFL season is the arrival of experienced wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. In recent statements to the press, the player, who comes from playing with Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs, expressed his excitement about playing alongside Lamar Jackson.

“I think Lamar being the leader of this team is part of the reason that I came here,” Hopkins said. “What he stands for and how he led this team and this organization to the playoffs in multiple years, and since he’s been here, just how he’s led any receiver group he’s had. I think that played a big part of me coming here for sure—Lamar being the quarterback.”

Last year, the team had to lean on Cooper Rush with Prescott on the sidelines. Trey Lance also got to see the field, but it didn’t change much. Therefore, the Cowboys‘ front office might make a big decision to be prepared for similar scenarios in the future.

Jones‘ eldest son Stephen, who is the executive vice president, CEO, and director of player personnel for the Cowboys, recently revealed that Dallas will be looking to select a quarterback in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.

“You know, I think one of our goals is to get a young quarterback in the draft,” Jones said, via David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. “I don’t know where that’s going to be. That’s why we gave a [fourth-round pick] for Trey. It seems like all the quarterbacks, even guys we have in the fourth round, go in the first. They always go so much higher than what you think.”

How many draft picks do the Cowboys have in 2025?

Their poor performance in the 2024 NFL season saw the Cowboys secure the 12th overall pick in April’s Draft, where they’ll also have second (44th overall), third, fifth, and sixth round picks.

This year’s class of quarterbacks looks stacked, but chances are that, unless they use their first-rounder to get one of them, those names will be picked before the Cowboys have a chance to do so.

The Cowboys have already made a long-term commitment by handing Prescott a four-year, $240 million contract extension in 2024, making him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. But with the star signal-caller turning 32 in July, having a rookie in the QB room to learn from him could be useful in the future.

Stephen Jones admits Cooper Rush, Trey Lance may not return to Cowboys

Both Rush and Lance will be free agents this offseason, and Stephen Jones’ recent comments suggest that their future might be outside Dallas. Jones claims that, while the Cowboys still like Rush, the 31-year-old may not return as they “don’t know what he’s going to cost” this summer.

“Unfortunately, we do have to go cheap,” explained Jones, who also doesn’t expect Lance to be back in 2025 as the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback is “probably going to be looking for something different.”

Cooper Rush and Trey Lance’s history in Dallas

Rush, 31, has pretty much spent his entire career in Dallas, a team he joined as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He spent a few months with the New York Giants in 2020 but ended up returning to the Cowboys after Prescott suffered an injury.

Lance, 24, entered the NFL with high expectations around him as the Niners traded up to select him third-overall in 2021. He sat behind Jimmy Garoppolo in his rookie year, but when the 49ers promoted him in his second year, an early injury ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign. Brock Purdy did well during his absence, and he never got another chance.

The Cowboys got him for a fourth-round pick in 2023, and he had to settle with being the third-string QB behind Prescott and Rush. Not even Dak’s injury in 2024 let Lance get significant playing time.

Prescott’s absence until the following year was a blow that ended the Cowboys‘ slim playoff hopes. The quarterback suffered a partially torn hamstring and was out for the season after undergoing surgery. Jones decided not to sign him and went with what he had.

Rush and Lance, faced with this scenario, battled for the position left vacant by Prescott. Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ season had seen a slight uptick in wins that allowed the illusion of postseason qualification to quickly fade. However, with his ownership perspective, Jones chose one of the two backup quarterbacks with the future of the franchise in mind.

Who did Jones choose between Rush and Lance?

Jones spoke as he does every Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan and said the Cowboys are not interested in having backup quarterback Trey Lance as their starter. “I’m not. I still think Cooper Rush gives us the best chance. Wins are important to us. This is a young team,” the Dallas franchise owner said.

Comparing Rush and Lance

It is currently unfair to compare the activity of both quarterbacks, as Rush has been the starter since Prescott‘s injury. The 31-year-old veteran has started five games and completed 128 passes for seven touchdowns this season.

Lance, on the other hand, is seven years younger than Rush. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback has played in just two games this season, completing four passes and one incompletion. “I’m ready for the opportunity,” Lance said days ago about the possibility of competing for the quarterback job.

What is the Cowboys’ next game?

Dallas will play its next game of the 2024 NFL season when it takes on the Carolina Panthers in Week 15 on Sunday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium. It will be a matchup of two teams with negative records, both looking to rebuild for next year.

In their latest update of their gameday accountability report, the National Football League included Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner, a pivotal leader on the team’s defense.

Despite being one of the most experienced players on a team led by a rookie QB in Daniels, Wagner made a surprising mistake for a player of his age, drawing a $16,883 fine from the NFL for roughing the passer (contact to the knee or below).

Bobby Wagner punished by the NFL for low hit on Rush

The play in question took place at the start of the fourth quarter, with 14:17 remaining in the game. With Dallas on second and 11, Wagner went low on Rush as the quarterback completed a seven-yard throw to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.

The referees immediately noticed the violation and flagged Wagner, giving the Cowboys an automatic first down on their own 45-yard line. The play didn’t prove that costly for Washington as Dallas failed to score on that drive, but it proved costly for Wagner’s pockets.

Wagner gets one of the biggest fines of the week by the NFL

The 34-year-old was tied with Houston Texans safety M.J. Stewart (Unnecessary Roughness – blindside block) for the second-highest fine in Week 12, only trailing Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson and Pittsburgh Steelers’ Donte Jackson, who were fined $22,511 each.

1. $22,511.00 – Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis Colts, Unnecessary Roughness – use of the helmet) and Donte Jackson (Pittsburgh Steelers, Unnecessary Roughness – use of the helmet)
2. $16,883.00 – M.J. Stewart (Houston Texans, Unnecessary Roughness – blindside block) and Bobby Wagner (Washington Commanders, Roughing the Passer – contact to the knee or below)
3. $15,236.00 – Malik Harrison (Baltimore Ravens, Unnecessary Roughness – use of the helmet)
4. $11,255.00 – Grant Delpit (Cleveland Browns, Unsportsmanlike Conduct – taunting), Neville Hewitt (Houston Texans, Unnecessary Roughness – late hit), Azeez Al-Shaair (Houston Texans, Unnecessary Roughness – late hit), and Damontae Kazee (Pittsburgh Steelers, Unnecessary Roughness – late hit).
5. $10,378.00 – Jordan Hicks (Cleveland Browns, Roughing the Passer – body weight)
6. $8,856.32 – Jackson Powers-Johnson (Las Vegas Raiders, Unnecessary Roughness – late hit)
7. $6,594.00 – Coby Bryant (Seattle Seahawks, Unsportsmanlike Conduct – obscene gestures)
8. $5,472.00 -Mike Brown (Tennessee Titans, Unnecessary Roughness – hip-drop tackle) and Vederian Lowe (New England Patriots, Unnecessary Roughness – blindside block).
9. $5,106.48 – Julian Hill (Miami Dolphins, Unnecessary Roughness – use of the helmet)
10. $5,083.00 – Daniel Hardy (Chicago Bears, Unnecessary Roughness – late hit)