The 2022 draft produced nine quarterbacks. Only one, the last player taken of all, has become a consistent starter and potential franchise quarterback.
There’s another quarterback other than Brock Purdy who has, in far more limited opportunities, shown that he can perhaps become a consistent QB1, somewhere.
Packers quarterback Malik Willis, who’ll start an important Saturday night game against the Ravens, played well in Week 16, after Jordan Love left with a concussion caused by an illegal hit. Willis completed nine of 11 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. He added 44 rushing yards on 10 attempts.
And while the 16-6 lead he helped build melted into a 22-16 overtime loss, Willis played well. As he did in 2024, when he won two starts after Love suffered a knee injury near the end of a Week 1 loss to the Eagles. In seven total appearances last year, Willis completed 74.1 percent of his passes, with an average gain per attempt of 10.2 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 124.8. Willis also gained 138 rushing yards on 20 carries.
Not bad for a guy who fell to round three, taken after Kenny Pickett and Desmond Ridder. Willis had three starts as a rookie, with two losses and unimpressive passing numbers (50.8 completion percentage, no touchdowns, three interceptions, 4.5 yards per attempt, passer rating of 42.8). He played very sparingly in 2023, with Ryan Tannehill and Will Levis splitting the 17 regular-season starts.
The odd man out behind Mason Rudolph and Levis in 2024, the Titans offloaded Willis in late August for a seventh-round pick.
Now, after two years with the Packers, Willis is two regular-season games (plus the extent of Green Bay’s postseason) from a shot at the open market. The Packers would surely love to keep him around as Love’s understudy. How can other teams not be taking a serious look at him as a guy who can at least compete for a starting job?
Wherever it goes from here, Willis is in line for a significant bump over his $1.1 million salary in 2025. And he’ll get another shot, in prime time, to add even more to his looming payday for 2025.
In an offseason that won’t have many capable free-agent quarterbacks with starting experience, Willis could be the most intriguing. He can add even more intrigue to the coming quarterback carousel on Saturday night.
It looks like it will be Tyler Huntley and Malik Willis at quarterback when the Ravens face the Packers in Green Bay on Saturday night.
According to multiple reports, Jordan Love will not play for the Packers because of the concussion he suffered in last Saturday’s loss to the Bears. Love was a limited participant in practice this week and he was listed as questionable.
Willis was also listed as questionable due to a right shoulder injury and an illness, but he is expected to start the game. Clayton Tune will be elevated from the practice squad to serve as the backup quarterback.
The Packers clinched a playoff spot with the Lions’ loss on Thursday. If they lose on Saturday, the Bears will clinch the NFC North.
The Ravens listed Lamar Jackson as doubtful to play because of a back injury, which leaves Huntley in line to make his second start of the season.
The Ravens are not expected to have Lamar Jackson for Saturday’s game against the Packers and it’s unclear who will be at quarterback for Green Bay.
Jordan Love and Malik Willis are both listed as questionable to play this weekend. Love suffered a concussion in last Saturday’s loss to the Bears and he was listed as a limited participant in practice all three days this week.
Willis injured his right shoulder after replacing Love in Chicago and he was a non-participant on Wednesday due to an illness. He returned for a limited session on Thursday.
Right tackle Zach Tom (back, knee), center Sean Rhyan (knee, illness), wide receiver Christian Watson (shoulder, illness), safety Evan Williams (knee), and cornerback Bo Melton (illness) are also listed as questionable for Green Bay. Linebacker Kristian Welch (ankle) and guard John Williams (back) have been ruled out.
The Ravens do not expect to have quarterback Lamar Jackson in the lineup for Saturday night’s game against the Packers.
Jackson has been listed as doubtful to play this weekend because of the back contusion he suffered in last Sunday’s loss to the Patriots. Jackson has not practiced this week.
Tyler Huntley will get the start for the Ravens if Jackson is ruled out. The Ravens need to beat the Packers and have the Steelers lose to the Browns on Sunday in order to remain alive in the AFC North heading into Week 18.
If they are eliminated, there will be a lot of questions about the futures of Jackson, head coach John Harbaugh and a lot of other Ravens as the team moves into an offseason that would be starting a lot earlier than anyone in Baltimore believed it would at the start of the year.
The Ravens ruled defensive tackle Taven Bryan (knee) out and linebacker Jay Higgins (knee) has been listed as questionable.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh denies a rift with his quarterback, calling his relationship with Lamar Jackson “A-plus.”
Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun questioned Jackson’s work ethic earlier this week, reporting that Jackson has fallen asleep in team meetings and spends too much time late at night playing video games. Preston reports Harbaugh has become “tired” of the two-time NFL MVP.
According to Preston, the Ravens changed their practice schedule to the afternoon to accommodate Jackson.
Harbaugh addressed the report after practice on Wednesday.
“So, I don’t know where that’s coming from,” Harbaugh said, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. “I’ve never seen that ever. That’s not something that I’ve ever witnessed, and I’m in every meeting.”
Harbaugh said his relationship with Jackson is solid, and the two had a “great conversation” on Wednesday morning.
“So I love him. Always have, always will,” Harbaugh said. “And I know he’s fighting like crazy to get back.”
Jackson did not practice again Wednesday as he works his way back from a back contusion. Tyler Huntley will start if Jackson can’t play against the Bears.
