OTL: Concerns About the Backup QB Position?

That’s a wrap on the Ravens’ first preseason game of this year. Just to reiterate, the results don’t matter in terms of wins and losses; however, individual players can see their stock rise or fall. There were more positives than negatives last night as a couple of things stood out. Some aspects of the unit, like Mike Green and Aeneas Peebles flashing, were fun, while other elements, like Bilhal Kone getting hurt, were tough to watch.

With that said, my three main takeaways are that Keaton Mitchell has the juice back, the Ravens found their new punt returner, and if anything happens to Lamar Jackson, the Ravens are screwed.

Keaton Mitchell HAVE A NIGHT

9 Att
68 Yds
1 TD
7.6 YPC #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/YYqGIA2boM

— SleeperRavens (@SleeperRavenss) August 8, 2025

If you watched Mitchell last year, you know that he didn’t have the same acceleration he had in his rookie year. That ability to make something out of nothing and turn solid gains into house calls just wasn’t present last year. Now, to be fair, it does take around a year to get that same level of speed back, so maybe this isn’t the most shocking, but last night, Mitchell reminded the world of the talent he was before the injury.

He has flown under the radar because the team has Derrick Henry and Justice Hill established already, so it was tough to really see how much playing time Mitchell would have this year, but if this version of Keaton, then the touches will come for him.

Luckily for him, those touches probably won’t have to go in the return game because oh my goodness LaJohntay Wester put on a show last night:

Wester puts on an absolute show.

That cut was nasty! pic.twitter.com/NkGwAnQP3E

— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) August 7, 2025

Some are going to discount this as just pre-season, but he was already a good returner in college, and the Ravens have needed a good, consistent returner for a while now. Wester looked special tonight. I don’t care who was on the field; his ability to split the field like that effortlessly was a joy to watch. The Ravens have needed some kind of difference-maker in the return game, and Wester looked like that tonight.

It wasn’t all positives, and I could go in a couple of different directions, but the main point is that the quarterback room without Lamar is just not good. We know if Jackson misses extended time, the season is in big trouble, but the Ravens need to be confident a backup can step in for at least a game or two if pressed into duty.

Devin Leary is a hard watch tonight

Just not a lot of positives

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) August 8, 2025

Most teams would be screwed if they lost their MVP quarterback, but the Ravens’ depth is scary right now. I know Cooper Rush won games in Dallas last year, but he really isn’t special. That is a compliment compared to Devin Leary, who is god awful. If you are staring down reads all game and making horrific throws in the pre-season, yeah, that doesn’t bode well at all for your future in the league. I honestly think the Ravens should be on the phone with Tyler Huntley when and if he is released, because they better find a good backup.

Again, this isn’t the biggest deal in the world, but the quarterbacks are leaving a ton to be desired right now behind Lamar.

Overall, really good game and good to see some of these guys shine tonight, so we as a fan base and organization can get a read on these players and where they stand.

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