The Baltimore Ravens are in a flat-out dangerous spot. They’ve lost their top two quarterbacks to injury, and now their third option is battling issues too, leaving their 4-4 season hanging by a thread. Lamar Jackson, their star QB, suffered a thumb injury on his very first passing attempt in that brutal 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. That injury required surgery, landed him on injured reserve, and could completely end his season. Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, Tyler Huntley also went down with a season-ending turf toe injury.
Undrafted Rookie Takes the Helm, But It’s Not Enough
With Jackson and Huntley sidelined, undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano was thrust into the lineup. He completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards and threw one interception against Buffalo. Now, Fagnano is nursing an ankle injury himself and is questionable for the Ravens’ Week 9 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Baltimore has already scrambled to add Kedon Slovis and Austin Reed to the roster. While Fagnano might join Anthony Brown as only the second undrafted rookie QB to start a game for the Ravens, you have to wonder if they need a real, proven starter. They’re in last place in their division, but at 4-4, this season is not over yet. The trade deadline is next Tuesday, and Baltimore absolutely has to make a move.
Who Could Baltimore Even Get? The Vets and The Risky Upside
So, who could the Ravens chase to save their season? Jacoby Brissett from the Cardinals is one name floating around. Arizona just demoted him to third-string, moving forward with Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck. Brissett actually got benched for Minshew in Week 8 against the Cowboys, but Minshew sparked the offense with three fourth-quarter touchdown passes, winning the game in overtime. Brissett hasn’t been terrible this season, completing 63.3% of his passes for 1,719 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in eight games. He even had a crazy connection with Trey McBride, averaging 75.6 yards per game to the tight end, which was the most by a QB-TE combo since 1970 (minimum 15 games). He’s not a Pro Bowler, but he’s a borderline starter and a definite upgrade over an undrafted rookie.
The other, far more intriguing, option is Anthony Richardson from the Colts. This would be a massive swing for General Manager Eric DeCosta, offering the most upside. Richardson, the former No. 4 overall pick out of Florida, hasn’t started a game since 2024. He’s one of the most athletic quarterback prospects we’ve ever seen, but things haven’t exactly gone to plan for him in Indianapolis. The 24-year-old is 8-7 as a starter, completing just 50.9% of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 18 total games. Availability and consistency have been major issues for him. But man, that talent is still there.
The Ravens are facing the Jaguars in Week 9 on Thursday, and the clock is ticking on the trade deadline. With their season teetering at 4-4, Baltimore needs to figure out if they’re going for a safe bet in Brissett or a Hail Mary with Richardson if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. What a mess.
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.
Leave a Reply