NASCAR star Ryan Blaney has switched his sporting focus over the holiday season, shouting out a 'super talented' athlete online.
The Team Penske driver was clearly watching some Saturday night NFL action, taking to Twitter to praise Green Bay Packers backup QB Malik Willis for his performance against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Packers were actually beaten on the day, losing 41-24 in a battle of backup QBs, with starters Jordan Love (concussion) and Lamar Jackson (back) out for them and the Ravens respectively.
That didn't stop Blaney praising Willis' performance though, with the one-time third round pick for the Tennessee Titans putting up 288 yards in the air while completing 18 of 21 passes, getting one touchdown through the air while also adding 60 yards and two TDs with his legs.
Blaney hails Green Bay backup
It wasn't just Willis' stats that got Blaney excited though, in a game in which the Packers' handed over the NFC North title to the Chicago Bears, but his toughness in returning to the game after being knocked out with a shoulder injury.
"I hope Malik Willis gets a QB1 opportunity sometime in the near future," he wrote. "I really enjoyed watching him play tonight. Super talented and a lot of heart coming back in after his shoulder issue. Sports are cool."
The problem? Willis didn't come back into the game after going to get his shoulder seen to (although he did come into the game both ill and dinged up).
Willis was replaced by Clayton Tune while he got his shoulder checked out, with Tune throwing an unfortunate interception on his first pass attempt when his pass bounced out of the hands of receiver Bo Melton.
The good news for Blaney (and Willis) is that the 26-year-old out of Liberty University will be a free agent after this year, and should be well positioned to take advantage of a weak class of unattached QBs and college signal-callers, with a number of struggling teams in need of a starter with upside.
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