Ryan Mallett Sought Help, Signs With Ravens

In NFL news, the Baltimore Ravens have signed quarterback Ryan Mallett, according to a report from ESPN. A source informed ESPN’s Ed Werder that Mallett sought treatment for personal issues related to this season’s downward spiral with the Houston Texans, and the professional help he received was enough for the Ravens to add him to their roster. NFL.com reports that the deal could reach $2.6 million in 2016, including a $1.5 million base salary with $1 million in incentives.

Mallett was released by the Texans on October 27 after missing a team flight to Miami because he overslept. The quarterback had previously missed a team meeting after Brian Hoyer was named the starter over Mallett, but Texans coach Bill O’Brien chalked it up to competitive frustration. According to NFL media insider Ian Rapoport, several teams were interested in Mallett’s services, but he ultimately signed with the 4-9 Ravens. Injuries have hit the quarterback position hard in recent weeks, including signal-callers in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Dallas, and even in Houston.

After deciding last night to join #Ravens over a push from QB-needy teams, Ryan Mallett will sign today a deal with up to $2.5M in 2016

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 15, 2015

While Brian Hoyer was initially named the starting quarterback coming out of Houston’s training camp, it didn’t take long for Ryan Mallett to see the field. He replaced Hoyer in the fourth quarter of the team’s regular season-opener against the Chiefs, leading the team to two scoring drives, but ultimately coming up short in the 27-20 loss. Mallett then took over and started the next four games. However, the Texans won just one of those before Hoyer reclaimed the job in week six. Houston beat the Jaguars 31-20 behind a strong performance from Hoyer, and Mallett never donned a Texans uniform again. All told, Mallett threw for 770 yards in six games, four of which were starts. He tossed three touchdowns, but was intercepted four times and finished with a quarterback rating of 63.6.

Not by choice, the Ravens found themselves in the market for a quarterback thanks to a season-ending injury to Joe Flacco in a Week 11 win over the Rams. Flacco tore his ACL in the fourth quarter, cementing Baltimore’s miserable 2015 season. The following week marked the first time since 2007 that the Ravens played a regular season or playoff game without Flacco. The Ryan Mallett-signing comes on the heels of Matt Schaub’s chest injury and a poor performance from Jimmy Clausen. Clausen started in place of Schaub in the Ravens’ 35-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks last week. It marked the second time this year Clausen had started against Seattle, the first coming as a member of the Chicago Bears. The Seahawks won that one in similar fashion, a 26-0 final back in September. Clausen was released by the Bears on November 23 and signed with Baltimore the following day because of his familiarity with Ravens’ offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, the former head coach of the Bears.

Not only did the Ravens lose their starting quarterback, but they lost their starting running back Justin Forsett and best wide receiver Steve Smith to season-ending injuries. Their first round draft pick Breshad Perriman never played a single snap this year after injuring his knee during the first practice of training camp. Up until this past Sunday, the Ravens hadn’t lost a game by more than eight points, yet currently sit fourth in the NFL Draft order with that 4-9 record. The acquisition of Ryan Mallett won’t tip the scales, but it will provide depth at the position come next season. Mallett has a chance to earn playing time in the final three games of 2015, dependent on how quickly he can adapt to his new playbook.

[Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images]