The Ravens signed Cooper Rush in April for the kind of situation they are facing this week.
Lamar Jackson (hamstring) didn't practice on Wednesday and his status is uncertain for Week 5 against the Houston Texans.
If Jackson can't play, Baltimore will need Rush's steady hand to step in at quarterback. That's what he did for the Dallas Cowboys as their backup quarterback for eight seasons, compiling a 9-5 record as a starter.
After arriving in Baltimore, Rush worked overtime during OTAs, minicamp, and training camp to learn Offensive Coordinator Todd Moneken's system, and now he could be days away from his first start with the Ravens.. Stepping in for the injured Jackson against the Chiefs last week, Rush went 9-of-13 for 52 yards.
From what his teammates have seen, Sunday's game won't be too big for Rush, not even with the Ravens facing an unexpected 1-3 start to their season.
"He's a pro's pro," tight end Mark Andrews said. "He really dove into this offense, understands it extremely well. He's going to know what to do. I know he's fired up for the opportunity to go show what he's all about. There's a reason why he's been in the league [eight years]. He's a really good player."
Rush went 4-4 as a starter filling in for Dak Prescott last season, throwing 12 touchdowns to five interceptions. After a tough start to his first preseason with the Ravens, he rebounded with a couple strong showings in Dallas and Washington.
Once the regular season began, Rush didn't get many practice reps with the starters. Andrews said there's been a lot of talking during meetings and practices this week, with the focus on making Rush's job easier.
"Open communication," Andrews said. "How he sees things, how he wants you to run the route. Just being able to be there for him, be friendly to him. We have a lot of guys who are committed to that."
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman expects Baltimore's offense to run smoothly if Rush gets the start.
"Coop's done an amazing job since he's been here," Bateman said. "We've got all the trust that he'll get the job done."
Tyler Huntley and Keaton Mitchell Could Suit Up Sunday
Harbaugh made it clear that if Jackson doesn't play Sunday, Tyler Huntley will be brought up from the practice squad. Asked about Rush, Harbaugh made sure not to overlook Huntley.
"Cooper practiced today and he was the quarterback, and Tyler practiced today also. I thought everybody did a really good job today," Harbaugh said.
"Cooper's experienced, he's been in these situations before – as has Tyler. [Rush is] up to speed. He's been with us all the way back to the beginning. He's been with us in every practice, every meeting, he knows the offense, and he'll be ready to go."
Harbaugh also said "there's a chance" running back Keaton Mitchell could also play Sunday for the first time this season. With so many injuries, every healthy Raven could suit up.
Jaire Alexander Is Getting 'Closer' to Game Action
Jaire Alexander hasn't played since Week 1 in Buffalo, but he could get back on the field Sunday with the Ravens' cornerbacks banged up.
Marlon Humphrey (calf), Nate Wiggins (elbow), and Chidobe Awuzie didn't practice Wednesday. That opens the door for second-year cornerback T.J. Tampa and undrafted rookie Keyon Martin, but it could also mean Alexander returns.
Alexander had a tough game against the Bills as they went after him during their fourth-quarter comeback. But he only had a few practices under his belt at that point after missing nearly a month of training camp as he managed his knee health.
Alexander has been practicing since and the Ravens are evaluating whether he's physically ready to return to game action.
"He's getting closer. Will he be ready this week or not, we'll see," Harbaugh said. "We're measuring that stuff and he practiced today."
Jake Hummel Preparing Mentally and Physically for Larger Role
Jake Hummel was signed by the Ravens this offseason primarily to be an ace on their special teams units. While Hummel made his impact felt in that regard with a blocked punt in the Ravens' Week 2 win over the Cleveland Browns, he now may be called on as a defensive starter with Roquan Smith dealing with a hamstring injury.
Hummel has started one game during his four-year career. It came in last season's regular-season finale when Hummel's Los Angeles Rams already had the division title locked up. Hummel played 51 defensive snaps and made eight tackles.
In Baltimore, Hummel played just one defensive snap through the first three weeks before he was thrust into action after Smith exited Sunday's loss in Kansas City. In 28 defensive snaps, Hummel made five tackles.
This week, Hummel said he's mentally and physically preparing himself to take on more snaps and break out of his special teams exclusive role.
"I'm always preparing to play if I have to," Hummel said. "So, I guess this week it's nice to know that the chances of being out there are like just higher. You just go into it with the mindset of preparing to take on an extra load."
Hummel said there's a conditioning aspect to playing more snaps. While he generally stays in good shape, he may get in extra cardio on an exercise bike or by running after practice. There's also a mental adjustment that will happen this week in practice.
"I'm always excited to be able to get on the field at linebacker," Hummel said. "I think part of it, too, is just getting enough game reps to feel comfortable out there. Sometimes you don't play linebacker very often. It could be games or weeks or half a year where you might not be getting your linebacker reps for real. So it's just kind of getting in that groove as fast as you can and just processing like a linebacker, in that mental space."
