Who's Playing, Who's Not: Tyler Huntley…

Tyler Huntley will start Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Head Coach John Harbaugh announced Friday.

That means Lamar Jackson’s 2021 season may end on the shelf, as the Ravens quarterback is still dealing with the ankle injury that has sidelined him the past four weeks.

Jackson practiced only once since suffering an ankle injury on Dec. 12 in Cleveland and had a pronounced limp when he did.

Huntley will make his fourth start, this time against a division rival in a game the Ravens must win to keep their slim playoff chances alive. The Steelers defense has been feasting in recent weeks, and pass rusher T.J. Watt is 1.5 sacks short of breaking Michael Strahan’s single-season sacks record.

Huntley scored four touchdowns in a breakout performance against the Green Bay Packers but had a tougher time against the Los Angeles Rams last week. Part of it could be because he didn’t feel totally right.

Huntley said he feels “way better” this week as opposed to last, when he was fresh off being cleared from COVID-19 protocols. He said he could still feel it in his chest, and now has been able to eat and drink more heading into this week’s game.

All the game reps also has Huntley feeling more confident and improving, and has also grown the trust in him from teammates and coaches.

“It’s like a little kid learning how to draw,” Huntley said. “The first time you draw, it looks crazy. Then it gets a little better and you get an actual kind of a little picture. And as they keep going, they add some color to it and it starts looking like a real-deal picture.”

Jackson had never missed a start in his first three years in the league due to injury. If the Ravens don’t make the playoffs, his season will end with four straight games missed.

Even though it’s Jackson’s 25th birthday Friday, it’s probably not the happiest one he’s had.

“He wants to be out there every time,” Huntley said. “Being in the locker room, it’s so hard not seeing him go out there and being great how he usually is. … I can’t wait for L to feel better. And happy birthday, man. I miss you out there.”