Could Tyrod Taylor get more playing time this season?

Coach John Harbaugh said team needs to take advantage of backup quarterback's talent

As the backup to starting quarterback Joe Flacco for the past two seasons, Tyrod Taylor’s time on the field has been extremely limited, throwing just four passes, completing three for 48 yards and rushing three times for 13 yards.

But coach John Harbaugh suggested Wednesday that the team may need to find a way to put Taylor on the field more often.

“He’s a talented, gifted player, and we do need to find ways to take advantage of that,” Harbaugh said.

Taylor said he is open to any possibility.

“I’m ready for the opportunity,” he said Thursday. “I practice every day, and I’m just trying to prepare myself for any opportunity I get in a game. I’m ready for when they want to use me.”

Taylor took one snap in Sunday’s 25-15 win against the Cleveland Browns, gaining four yards on a run off right tackle that set up rookie kicker Justin Tucker for a 43-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

The play may not have seemed like much at the time, but Taylor had the wherewithal to avoid running out of bounds and force the Browns to spend their third and final timeout.

“It’s just something that we’ve practiced,” Taylor said. “It was in my head, too. It’s a four-minute situation, and you’ve got to keep the clock running and run as much time off the clock as possible. It was third-and-10 [at Cleveland’s 28-yard line]. So of course, if you can get the first down, get it. But if you can’t, make sure that you stay in bounds. But it was close.”