OTL: Rush Hour
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but the Baltimore Ravens’ signing of Cooper Rush will have very little impact on how the rest of their offseason proceeds. If they want someone else, they will get them, or at least try to. God forbid the Ravens spend money on a backup quarterback so they aren’t completely screwed if Lamar Jackson misses time.
The Ravens are 3-9 since 2020 without their MVP on the field. Remember when they lost to the Bengals in the Wild Card Round a few years back? Remember how that game unfolded? I think about it almost every night. If they win that game, Lamar probably comes back for the Divisional round. Then? Who knows.
Instead, the backup quarterback inexplicably decided to try to reach the ball four yards across the goalline. Game, set, match.
Point being that the Ravens haven’t really invested in the backup quarterback position in recent years, or historically for that matter. But here’s the thing: maybe some of you folks are OK with watching the Ravens tank if, god forbid, Lamar gets hurt, but I’m not. I want this team trying to win every single game. With how expensive it is to go to, and even just watch a game on TV? All the money in this game? Even if Lamar is out for an extended period of time next season – again god forbid – I want them to have the best opportunity to win. Rush was the best available option in order to do that.
Look at our friends in Kansas City: they go and sign Carson Wentz (noted North Dakota legend) to backup Patrick Mahomes. If Mahomes ever missed significant time last year, they would’ve likely been fine.
Going with Josh Johnson again would’ve been a poor choice. I think we’ve seen how that story plays out if he was the one filling in for Jackson for more than a fourth quarter of a blowout. Think of the Rush signing as an insurance policy. After all, this is an extremely violent game. A season can change in the blink of an eye.
With the talent the Ravens have assembled on the offensive side of the ball, I don’t think it’s unfair to say that a backup quarterback of Rush’s caliber could keep the Ravens afloat for a couple of weeks.
Hopefully, we’ll never have to find out.
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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/03/20/out-to-lunch/otl-rush-hour/
