Cooper Rush’s Crucial Debut: Can He Outsmart Ravens’ Fierce Defense?

So here we are—Baltimore Ravens, a team that promised the moon but barely has a flashlight, stumbling into Week 5 at 1-3. And just my luck, their star quarterback Lamar Jackson is sidelined with a nagging soft-tissue injury. Enter Cooper Rush: veteran backup, steady hand, and suddenly the man tasked with pulling off what might be the NFL equivalent of juggling flaming swords. Now, Rush has a respectable 9-5 record as a starter, but his debut for the Ravens comes against the Texans’ defense — a unit so stingy they’ve allowed only 51 points all season. Tough? Absolutely. But here’s the kicker: can Rush, standing in for a Super Bowl-caliber offense star, actually crack this defensive fortress? Or is this just the latest chapter in the Ravens’ stormy saga? Let’s dive into why this game might be less about the scoreboard and more about sheer survival.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 28: Cooper Rush #15 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to pass during the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. — (Photo by Amy Kontras/Getty Images)

When it rains, it pours for the Baltimore Ravens.

Not only are they 1-3 for the season, but they won’t have their best player on the field on Sunday.

With Lamar Jackson still dealing with a lingering soft-tissue injury, it will be Cooper Rush‘s turn to run the show.

As pointed out by Adam Schefter, that spells trouble for John Harbaugh’s team:

“Ravens QB Cooper Rush has a 9-5 record as an NFL starter. His first Ravens start comes against a Texans defense that has allowed only 51 points this season (12.8 per game) – the fewest in the NFL,” Schefter posted on X.

Ravens QB Cooper Rush has a 9-5 record as an NFL starter. His first Ravens start comes against a Texans defense that has allowed only 51 points this season (12.8 per game) – the fewest in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/CBy3xLKgtf

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 5, 2025

Rush is an experienced backup who’s been there and done that, and he’d be an upgrade over most backups in the league.

Nevertheless, the Houston Texans’ defense has been utterly dominant this season.

Granted, to be fair, they’ve also caught some breaks with some of the teams they’ve faced this season, but still.

Also, on the bright side, their offense has been quite stagnant, which is why they’re also 1-3 despite having such a lights-out defense.

Harbaugh will reportedly keep the visitors guessing on Sunday.

They will also have veteran backup Tyler ‘Snoop’ Huntley take the field for some packages to make the most of his mobility.

And while he’s clearly no Lamar Jackson, that type of dual-threat expertise should help keep the Texans’ defense guessing.

Both teams enter Week 5 pretty desperate for a win, all things considered.

However, the Ravens’ 1-3 record is clearly much more disappointing, considering that they were supposed to be a Super Bowl-caliber team this season.

Will Rush be able to get the win and continue his impressive record as a starter? We shall wait and see, but the odds clearly aren’t in his favor right now.

The post Cooper Rush Faces Tough Test In First Ravens Start appeared first on The Cold Wire.