Not even the Christmas spirit could offer reprieve for an injury-riddled season for the Baltimore Ravens.
Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley, previously expected to start Sunday in a crucial matchup with the Bengals, was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list.
#Ravens QB Tyler Huntley is headed to the COVID-19 reserve list, per me and @AKinkhabwala. Sick yesterday, now on the list today. He’s out for Sunday.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 25, 2021
Huntley was in line to start his second consecutive game after nearly commandeering a comeback effort against Green Bay last week, passing for 215 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for an additional 73 yards and two more scores. Lamar Jackson, while not officially ruled out, has missed the last two weeks of practice with an ankle injury.
Josh Johnson will get the nod under center in what will be a pivotal game in determining the winner of the AFC North. The Ravens and Bengals both sit at 8-6 on the season, but Cincinnati sits atop the division via a 41-17 head-to-head tiebreaker at Baltimore in Week 7. The Ravens, meanwhile, are the first team out of the playoffs, trailing the 8-6 Colts, Chargers and Bills.
Sunday's game at Cincinnati started with the line as Bengals -4 at DraftKings but has already moved three full points at the time of writing to Bengals -7 (check real-time NFL odds here).
Johnson, a career journeyman, will be tasked with preventing a four-game losing streak for Baltimore. The Ravens have lost their last three games by a combined four points.
A former fifth-round draft pick in 2008 for the Buccaneers, Johnson has changed teams 21 times across the NFL, UFL and XFL. He last played in Week 9 of this season for the Jets, replacing an injured Mike White. Johnson went three for 317 yards, three touchdowns and one interception on 27-of-41 passing in New York's 45-30 loss.
