Round this time final season, Tyler Huntley and Hint McSorley had been battling to be the Ravens’ backup quarterback. Huntley finally received the job and appeared in seven video games for injured starter Lamar Jackson, almost serving to Baltimore safe a playoff spot. McSorley, in the meantime, was signed off the Ravens’ follow squad in November by the Arizona Cardinals.
In the course of the Ravens’ 24-17 preseason victory over the Cardinals on Sunday evening at State Farm Subject, their paths crossed once more — this time as beginning quarterbacks. However identical to final 12 months’s competitors, Huntley as soon as once more got here out on high.
Huntley, who signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent earlier than the 2020 season, accomplished 13 of 14 passes for 129 yards, together with an 8-yard landing to rookie tight finish Isaiah Possible that gave the Ravens a 10-0 lead late within the first quarter. With starter Kyler Murray and veteran backup Colt McCoy sidelined, McSorley, the Ravens’ sixth-round pick of Penn State in 2019, performed many of the recreation, ending 18-for-34 for 229 yards with two interceptions and a speeding landing.
“I believed [Huntley] performed masterfully within the first half, working the offense and the passing recreation,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh mentioned.
Huntley’s highlight-reel efficiency featured two performs that confirmed why he is among the greatest backup quarterbacks within the league. Because the Ravens confronted second-and-9 in the midst of the primary quarter, Huntley escaped strain earlier than rolling out to the left and finishing a go to Possible, who broke a number of tackles for a 20-yard acquire.
On the identical drive, Huntley as soon as once more watched the pocket collapse as he scrambled towards the sideline earlier than throwing the ball throughout his physique to undrafted rookie receiver Makai Polk, who was huge open in the midst of the sphere. The 19-yard acquire led to a 29-yard discipline objective for Justin Tucker and drew smiles on the sideline from Harbaugh and Jackson.
“I believe the expertise positively performs a component in it,” mentioned Huntley, who went 1-3 in his 4 begins final season however confirmed spectacular command of the offense. “Simply happening my third 12 months, I’ve seen a pair [of] completely different defenses, and I’ve acquired an excellent really feel for the offense proper now, and I’m simply taking what the protection provides me, and it’s persevering with to work time after time.”
Via two preseason video games, Huntley has nearly as many passing touchdowns (two) as incompletions (three).
“The best way that he’s working the offense, communication has been actually good,” Harbaugh mentioned. “He’s getting out and scrambling and making performs along with his ft and conserving the protection on us that manner.”
Regardless that he threw interceptions to Ravens cornerbacks Kyle Fuller and Damarion “Pepe” Williams, McSorley had his moments Sunday. Close to the tip of the primary half, he threw a 23-yard go to receiver Victor Bolden earlier than connecting with Greg Dortch for a 34-yard completion that arrange a 21-yard discipline objective.
Within the fourth quarter, McSorley caught the Ravens’ protection off guard when he bumped into the tip zone for a 1-yard landing, which minimize the Cardinals’ deficit to 24-10 with 8:29 to go. The decision got here from Murray, who took over play-calling duties from coach Kliff Kingsbury late within the second half and helped Arizona engineer two landing drives to place the Ravens’ NFL-record 22-game preseason successful streak in jeopardy.
After the sport, McSorley met Jackson at midfield to meet up with his former teammate and take photographs.
“There have been some occasions once I handed up [No.] 1 or [No.] 2 within the development, making an attempt to get one thing somewhat farther down the sphere or making an attempt to make one thing occur,” McSorley instructed reporters. “I’ll return and watch the tape. I’ll choose myself tougher than anybody.”
()