RG3, Not Lamar Jackson, is Joe Flacco’s Backup in Baltimore Right Now

In the current NFL landscape, you’re more likely to hear about protests and rules than transactions and rumors. Because of that, a lot of people aren’t even aware that Robert Griffin III (or RG3) is currently on an official NFL roster. Ironically, the roster he’s on is that of the Baltimore Ravens — a team that plays just 32 miles away from where RG3 had his glory years (Washington).

On April 11th, Griffin III signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Ravens. The move came just a few weeks before the Ravens brought in Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Most folks assumed Jackson would be Joe Flacco‘s backup this year. They did, after all, use a first-round pick to lock him down. Griffin III, however, has thrown a wrench into that school of thought. On July 26th, the Ravens threw out their first official depth chart and it wasn’t Jackson in the No.2 spot. Instead, it was RG3, complete with a brand new jersey number (#3) etched next to his name.

You can see the complete depth chart here, per the Baltimore Ravens official site.

The Ravens will open up the NFL’s preseason with a meeting in the Hall of Fame Game against the Chicago Bears on August 2nd. I’m certain that Flacco will not play in the game but Griffin III, Jackson, and the fourth-stringer, Josh Woodrum, may. Woodrum, another guy with DMV ties, has been signed by six different teams in his career (twice by Baltimore) but has never made a regular season appearance.

So far, RG3 has kept a low profile with the Ravens, and that’s a good thing. He was always able to play but the side-show effect he brings to the table has been an issue. Obviously, he’s playing well in training camp if he’s listed as the No.2 quarterback — let’s just hope he can continue on that path.

Last season, RG3 wasn’t on a roster at all. The last time he played in an NFL game was during Week 17 of the 2016 season with the Cleveland Browns. In 42 career games, he’s thrown 42 touchdowns and 26 interceptions while maintaining an 88.4 passer rating.