The Baltimore Ravens are rolling with undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano at quarterback for their Week 9 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night, and let’s be real, this isn’t just a tough call. It’s a full-blown emergency. Coach Jesse Minter broke the news, confirming what everyone in Baltimore already suspected: their QB room is utterly decimated.
Ravens’ QB Room Hits Rock Bottom
This wild turn of events comes after Lamar Jackson went down with a right thumb injury that needed surgery. Ouch. Then, just to twist the knife, top backup Tyler Huntley also got bit by the injury bug, dealing with a turf toe. Both Jackson and Huntley are looking at a trip to injured reserve before the Thursday night game even kicks off. Seriously, what in the world is going on in Baltimore? It’s not just the QBs either, kicker Tyler Loop is also set to land on I.R. The injury bug is hitting them hard.
The whole Fagnano saga kicked off in Week 8 against the Buffalo Bills. Jackson got hurt on the *first snap* of the game, colliding with Bills pass rusher Greg Rousseau. Just like that, he was out. Huntley stepped in, but he couldn’t stay on the field for long himself before that toe injury sidelined him. So, the Ravens were left with no choice but to throw Fagnano, who was originally the emergency third quarterback, right into the fire.
Who Is Joe Fagnano, Anyway?
So, who is this guy Fagnano that’s suddenly thrust into the spotlight? He’s a 25-year-old rookie, undrafted out of UConn in the 2026 NFL Draft. He landed with Baltimore in the spring and actually fought his way onto the 53-man roster, beating out fellow undrafted rookie Diego Pavia during the summer.
Coach Minter gave him props, saying Fagnano “took advantage of opportunities” and “played his way onto the team.” Minter noted that Fagnano didn’t get a ton of reps early on, but an injury ten days before their first preseason game opened the door for him to get more. And clearly, he made the most of it in the preseason, completing 56-of-75 passes (a slick 74.7%) for 509 yards, three touchdowns, and just one interception. Those are some solid numbers for a guy fighting for a spot.
But Week 8 was a different animal. Coming in under duress, Fagnano completed 10-of-21 for 91 yards, threw an interception, and lost a fumble. Not exactly lighting it up, but hey, he was dropped into a hurricane. Now, he’s got to show what he’s made of in his first full NFL start. This isn’t just a one-off gig either, with Jackson and Huntley likely heading to I.R., this start against the Jaguars could absolutely be the first of many for the rookie. Let’s see if he can channel that preseason magic when it really counts tonight against a “really good team.”
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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