The Ravens’ quarterback picture went from concerning to a full-blown crisis the day before their critical AFC North tilt with Cincinnati with expected Week 16 starter Tyler Huntley being placed on the reserve-COVID-19 list.
Huntley missed practice on Friday with what was believed to be a non-COVID illness and was listed as questionable on the final injury report. However, the second-year quarterback tested positive for the virus on Saturday morning, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Ravens also announced starting quarterback Lamar Jackson wouldn’t travel to Cincinnati after not having practiced since injuring his right ankle on Dec. 12, leaving veteran Josh Johnson to start against the Bengals on Sunday afternoon. Jackson had been listed as questionable on the final injury report despite not being expected to play.
With no other quarterbacks on the active roster or practice squad — Chris Streveler was placed on the practice squad COVID-19 list on Thursday — the Ravens added Calvert Hall product and former Monmouth standout Kenji Bahar, who has had multiple stints with the organization dating back to the spring. Without the addition of Bahar to the practice squad and his subsequent call-up, punter Sam Koch may have been forced into the emergency backup quarterback role.
Johnson, 35, was signed off the New York Jets’ practice squad on Dec. 15 and will now make his ninth career NFL start and first since making three starts for Washington at the end of the 2018 season. The 2008 fifth-round pick out of San Diego appeared in three games for the Jets earlier this season, completing 29 of 45 passes for 334 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. The journeyman has played for nearly half of the league’s teams and is now in his second stint with the Ravens after spending the spring and summer of 2016 with Baltimore.
“I’ve known Josh since he played for my brother at the University of San Diego many moons ago,” head coach John Harbaugh said earlier this month. “That shows you what a credit it is to Josh’s career. He’s played in this league for a long time, and he’s very reliable. It was great having him here in 2016. He’s one of the best guys to be around and you want to be around. Whenever he’s played, he’s played well.”
In 36 career games, Johnson has completed 56.5% of his passes for 11 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
In better news, the Ravens activated wide receiver Sammy Watkins from the COVID-19 list and outside linebacker Daelin Hayes from injured reserve. They called up the following players from the practice squad for Sunday’s game: Bahar, safeties Tony Jefferson and Jordan Richards, cornerbacks Robert Jackson and Daryl Worley, offensive tackle Jaryd Jones-Smith, defensive tackles Isaiah Mack and Khalil McKenzie, linebacker Joe Thomas, and tight end Tony Poljan.
Baltimore still has 10 players from the 53-man roster on the COVID-19 list: Huntley, tight end Josh Oliver, safety Geno Stone, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, inside linebackers Chris Board and Kristian Welch, outside linebackers Pernell McPhee and Justin Houston, and cornerbacks Chris Westry and Jimmy Smith.
