In a Rush? Ravens' QB depth key to keeping season alive

In a Rush? Ravens' QB depth key to keeping season alive originally appeared on The Sporting News

Remember the old saying that the backup quarterback position is one of the most important in football?

Well, the Baltimore Ravens are set to possibly be without Lamar Jackson for multiple weeks, and it could be the Cooper Rush show as the AFC North franchise battles to keep its season alive for when the two-time MVP winner returns.

Games against the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Rams make a 1-5 record entering their bye a real possibility for the Ravens, who are dealing with injuries on both sides of the ball.

Rush came in for the last quarter of the 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, going 9 of 13 for 52 yards, and now, with Jackson's status up in the air for Week 5, Cooper could be tasked with keeping the Ravens afloat.

We are about to see how important it is to have a good backup quarterback.

More:The key problem with Lamar Jackson's injury for Ravens is his backup QB

Can Cooper Rush win games for the Ravens?

The short answer is yes, and Rush has the skins on the wall to back it up.

In 2022 with the Dallas Cowboys, Rush was 4-1 as a starter, stepping in for Dak Prescott, and last season was 4-4 as a starter, so he won games with the Cowboys being hit by injuries.

Plus, with Rush being able to be a game manager, and the Ravens' offensive identity being a run-first one, expect Derrick Henry to feature a whole lot more than he has. One thing we know about Rush is that he can keep things simple, lean on the run game, and make the occasional throw to keep the chains moving. 

It won't be aesthetically pleasing, but Rush is capable of keeping this thing on the tracks, provided he isn't asked to do it for a prolonged period.

For one or two weeks? Sure. But more than that, and it gets dicey.

Can Rush keep the Ravens afloat if Lamar is out? Putting it simply, he has to.

More Ravens news:

• Ravens sign former 1st-round pick to add depth at key position | Sporting News
• Hamstring recovery time in NFL: How Lamar Jackson's injury compares to other players, impacts Ravens future | Sporting News
• Lamar Jackson injury update: Baltimore Ravens superstar could miss multiple weeks | Sporting News
• The key problem with Lamar Jackson's injury for Ravens is his backup QB | Sporting News