Baltimore Ravens Sign Hundley, Harbaugh on Jackson’s Absence from OTAs & 2022 Predictions

Baltimore Ravens Sign Hundley, Harbaugh on Jackson’s Absence from OTAs & 2022 Predictions

The Baltimore Ravens announced Thursday that they have signed veteran journeyman backup quarterback Brett Hundley.

The UCLA product, who turns 29 years of age next month, is on his fifth NFL franchise in six years. A 2015 fifth-round draft choice of the Green Bay Packers, Hundley spent three years as Aaron Rodgers’ backup before making stops in Seattle (2018), Arizona (2019 to 2020), and Indianapolis (2022).

It’s been a busy week for GM Eric DeCosta, who also signed two-time Pro Bowl corner Kyler Fuller and veteran defensive end Brent Urban.

All nine of Huntley’s career starts came in 2017, as Rodgers missed seven games that year with a fractured collarbone. Hundley won three of nine starts, completing 60.8 percent of his passes for 1,836 yards, nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions Hundley joins a Ravens’ quarterback room that includes 2019 MVP Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley (he started four games in Jackson’s place last season) and Anthony Brown.

Maryland sports betting apps are widely expected to launch soon. There is hope that they’ll go live by the fall of 2022, which would be just in time for the Ravens’ 2022 season. Baltimore will open up the season with a road game against the New York Jets (1:00 p.m. EST) on Sept. 11.

BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings and FanDuel are among the top sportsbooks that will presumably launch in Maryland, and some of them will likely offer new customers risk-free bet promos. Customers in the state will get the chance to bet on the Ravens, who have +2000 odds of winning Super Bowl 57 at FanDuel.

John Harbaugh: Lamar Jackson Can “Speak For Himself” On Absence From OTAs

It’s always noteworthy when a big-named NFL star is absent from offseason organized team activities (OTAs), and the case of Lamar Jackson is no different.

After Wednesday’s practice, head coach John Harbaugh decided not to offer his personal opinion on Jackson’s absence from OTAs up to this point.

“We’ve been down this road many times through the years,” Harbaugh said, per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. “I’ll just let Lamar speak for himself on that. It’s for him to talk about. You can ask him.”

Harbaugh added, “It’s not for me to speak for somebody else on that. It’s up to him to speak for himself on that.”

Jackson is entering the final season of his rookie deal (the Ravens picked up his fifth-year option last offseason). There is no indication that the two sides are close to signing an extension, but some believe that Jackson will be content to play out 2023 (and possibly 2024) on the franchise tag.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin are among the other notable players who haven’t showed up to OTAs thus far.

We’ll just have to wait and see how things play out here, but it’s a little too early for Ravens fans to grow concerned about a potential holdout from Jackson.

Early 2022 Ravens Predictions

The Ravens finished 8-9 last season, which was actually quite impressive when you consider the a) amount of injuries they had, b) the difficulty of their schedule and c) two teams in their division made the playoffs.

Baltimore was 7-5 in games that Jackson started last season. They’ll happily welcome back a healthy Jackson, Marcus Peters, Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins and Marlon Humphrey for 2022.

DeCosta did a wonderful job in replenishing the secondary by signing ball-hawking safety Marcus Williams (five years, $70 million) and landing prized Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton with the No. 14 selection.

The Ravens were snake-bitten by injuries a year ago, but they’re simply due for better luck on the health front in 2022. And as long as Jackson is healthy, the Ravens will remain a bonafide Super Bowl contender.

The AFC is loaded with championship hopefuls, no doubt. But the Ravens boast the conference’s best rushing game and by far the best secondary.

The way-too-early 2022 prediction here is that the Ravens finish 11-6 to win the AFC North for the third time in five years.

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