Option for Steelers? Ravens Cut QB with Mike McCarthy Ties
The Baltimore Ravens are releasing quarterback Cooper Rush, who has deep ties to new Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy.
Rush, 32, was released by the Ravens on Thursday, according to a report by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
He ended up spending just one season in Baltimore, who had re-signed Tyler “Snoop” Huntley , earlier in the week. The Ravens acquired Huntley after Rush struggled in relief of Lamar Jackson early last season.
Jackson was injured in Week 4. The following week, Rush completed 14 of 20 passes for 179 yards, no touchdowns and there interceptions as the Ravens lost to the Houston Texans . In Week 6, after Rush was 11 for 19 for 72 yards and one more interception, he was benched for Huntley.
Rush served the rest of the season in Baltimore, first as Huntley’s backup and then as the third-string quarterback once Jackson returned from his injury. Rush had been set to earn $2.1 million this year, and his release will incur a $2.1 million dead cap hit, so the Ravens realize no salary cap benefit from releasing the veteran backup.
Before his time in Baltimore, Rush came to prominence under McCarthy. In 2022, he started five games in place of an injured Dak Prescott and went 4-1, posting an 80 passer rating. In 2024, he started eight games, going 4-4 with an 83.4 passer rating.
A former undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan, Rush has started 16 games over his eight-year NFL career, and all but the two in Baltimore last year came with McCarthy as his head coach.
Could that mean a reunion in Pittsburgh is in the cards? It seems unlikely. The Steelers already have a backup in Mason Rudolph and seem keen to to develop third-string quarterback Will Howard , which would not leave room for Rush if Aaron Rodgers returns. If he does not, however, Rush would add a player with a lot of experience in McCarthy’s scheme to the Steelers’ quarterback position room for training camp.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Option for Steelers? Ravens Cut QB with Mike McCarthy Ties
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