Cooper Rush spent seven seasons playing for the Dallas Cowboys, so coming out of the visitors' locker room to face them on Saturday night will be a different experience.
The veteran backup quarterback wants to put his best foot forward in his second start with the Ravens. Baltimore had just 59 passing yards in last week's 24-16 preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts. Rush was intercepted on his first pass and saw just one quarter of action, completing two of four attempts for 16 yards.
It's still the preseason, but Rush wants to build momentum, knowing he won't be getting game reps once Lamar Jackson takes over as the regular-season starter. It's been a transition for Rush going from Dallas' offense to the Ravens', but he's seeing progress.
"I'm really starting to feel comfortable, starting to own it, feel like you're in command out there over what's going on," Rush said. "All the [offseason] reps and OTAs were huge, getting to run the show. Every day it's been more and more comfortable."
Rush joined the Cowboys as an undrafted rookie in 2017 and developed into one of the NFL's most consistent backup quarterbacks. He has a 9-5 career record as a starter, and if Jackson is forced to miss time, the Ravens will be counting on Rush to play just as well, if not better than he did in Dallas.
Rush will see plenty of familiar faces wearing Cowboys uniforms Saturday night. He said returning to Dallas was an option this offseason when he hit free agency, but he jumped at the chance to join the Ravens, given their winning culture. Now, he's thinking more about playing well than reuniting with friends or putting on a show in front of his former team.
"I'm really trying to show my current team I'm doing well. Things like that are my main focus," Rush said.
"[But] those games matter. Those preseason games do help guys in my position. Those reps count [and] you learn from them, so when you have to go out there for the real thing, it helps."
Most Starters Won't Play Again vs. Cowboys
The Ravens only had a handful of starters play in the preseason opener versus the Indianapolis Colts, and the plan won't change in Dallas.
Right tackle Roger Rosengarten, right guard Daniel Faalele, left guard Andrew Vorhees, and inside linebacker Trenton Simpson were the only starters (or projected starters) to suit up, and Harbaugh said nobody who sat out last week will play this week.
Improved Pass Protection Could Help Keaton Mitchell See More Snaps
With plenty of mouths to feed in the Ravens' offense this season, one of the challenges this season for Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken and his staff will be keeping everyone full.
Running Backs Coach Willie Taggart has one of the toughest assignments with Derrick Henry leading the way, Justice Hill coming off a career year, and Keaton Mitchell showing his explosive return to rookie form.
"I think when it comes to Derrick and Justice, we have a good rotation going. Derrick's our normal-down back, and Justice is our third-down back. And as the game goes and Derrick needs a [break], we know Justice can go in," Taggart said.
"And then when it comes to Keaton, he's so unique in the things that he can do, and each week we try to find different ways to get him the football, so he can do his thing. It was great to see him back to himself last week."
One way Mitchell could get some reps is on third down, where his prowess as a pass catcher can be put to good use. Hill thrived in that role last season in part because he was an excellent pass protector, and Taggart sees Mitchell making strides in that aspect as well.
"Much better, much better," Taggart said. "Again, his rookie year, he didn't have that opportunity to do that. He's so much stronger than what he was his rookie year. He has a better understanding of how to do those things."
Harbaugh Calls Ray Lewis, Michael Phelps Speeches 'Once-in-a-Lifetime'
Tuesday's training camp practice was certainly a memorable one with Ray Lewis and Michael Phelps in attendance. A day later, Harbaugh reflected on that moment for himself and his team.
"It was amazing. I was looking around at the faces of the players. If I had a mirror, I think my face would've been the same," Harbaugh said.
"Just listening to these two guys – we had two of the, arguably, the greatest ever – the greatest ever to do what they do, in history. That's pretty rare. And they're standing right next to each other on the same field. Rasheen Ali said to me, he said, 'Yes, and Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry and Roquan Smith and Marlon Humphrey.' He named it off right in that group, and it kind of opens your eyes a little bit.
"And then the words that they shared with the guys were just, they were just so spot on. It's all the things that our guys, they know, they believe in. And to hear them reinforced and put in such terms; in terms that the guys are very vulnerable about. They kind of talked about their careers a little bit. It was once in a lifetime."
