Ravens Insider: Browns agree to terms with Tyler Huntley, former Ravens backup QB

[ExtremeRavens]

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns have reached into the Ravens’ well again for a quarterback to back up Deshaun Watson.

Last year, they called upon former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco to help save their season when Watson went down with a fractured shoulder. Flacco went 4-1 in his five starts, helping the Browns to clinch only their third playoff berth since 1999. With Flacco at the helm, the Browns lost 45-14 to the Texans in the wild card round.

This time around, they’ve agreed to terms on a one-year deal with former Ravens backup quarterback Tyler Huntley, who started a game against the Browns in relief of Lamar Jackson and finished another. The deal is worth the veteran minimum with some incentives.

Huntley became a free agent last week, and the Ravens had no plans to re-sign him. Instead, they added Josh Johnson to compete with Malik Cunningham for the backup job.

Huntley, 26, joins a quarterback room that includes Watson, new backup QB Jameis Winston, and 2023 fifth-round pick Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Winston, 30, agreed to terms with the Browns last week on a one-year deal worth $4 million, with a chance to make another $4.7 in incentives for games started and victories.

The Browns need an extra arm because Watson is recovering from surgery to repair a fractured glenoid bone in his right throwing shoulder, and he won’t be rushed. He’ll start throwing soon in Los Angeles and is expected to be ready for training camp, but he’ll be limited during the offseason program and possibly the June minicamp.

Huntley went 0-1 in his lone start against his new team, a 13-3 loss in Cleveland on Dec. 17, 2022. In relief of an injured Jackson, he completed 17 of 30 attempts for 138 yards with no touchdowns and one interception for a 54.6 rating. In 2021, Huntley came off the bench in the second quarter against the Browns after Jackson suffered a sprained ankle, and gave the Browns a scare with a late rally in Cleveland’s 24-22 victory. He went 27 of 38 (71.05) for 270 yards with one touchdown and one interceptions for a 99.7 rating. He also rushed for 45 yards and lost two fumbles.

In that game, Myles Garrett executed a strip-scoop-score off Huntley, running the ball back 15 yards for a TD. Garrett set the Browns’ single season record with 16 sacks in that game. Overall against the Browns, Huntley has completed 44 of his 68 attempts (64.71%) for 408 yards, with one touchdown pass and one interception. He’s earned a 79.8 rating.

In 2023, Huntley was added to the Pro Bowl roster as a replacement for an injured Josh Allen despite making only four starts.

In his four-year career, Huntley, signed by the Ravens as an undrafted rookie out of Utah in 2020, has gone 3-6 with a 64.6 completion percentage, 1,957 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has a career 79.0 rating.

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