Ravens to start undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano at quarterback vs. Jaguars
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The gist
Ravens rookie Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback Thursday against the Jaguars after Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley were injured.
Baltimore is 4-4 and last in the AFC North, with a Brissett trade reportedly in the works.
Background
Joe Fagnano is an undrafted rookie quarterback out of UConn who led the NFL with 509 passing yards in the preseason and made the Ravens' 53-man roster after General Manager Eric DeCosta told him he had made the team. Baltimore's quarterback room collapsed in a 36-10 loss at the Buffalo Bills on Nov 1: Lamar Jackson, the Ravens' starting quarterback, injured his right thumb on his first pass, and backup Tyler "Snoop" Huntley injured a toe in the same game. With Jackson headed to injured reserve and Huntley reportedly out for the season, the Ravens signed Kedon Slovis off the Packers' practice squad and added Austin Reed to the practice squad, and are reportedly finalizing a trade for Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
How it unfolded
- Aug 31, 2026Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta told undrafted rookies Joe Fagnano and another player they had officially made the 53-man roster.
- Nov 1, 2026Lamar Jackson injured his right thumb on his first pass in the Ravens' 36-10 loss at the Buffalo Bills; Tyler Huntley injured a toe in the same game, and Fagnano went 10 of 21 for 91 yards and an interception.
- Nov 3, 2026Head coach Jesse Minter announced Fagnano will start Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars; the Ravens also signed Kedon Slovis off the Packers' practice squad and added Austin Reed to the practice squad.
- Nov 3, 2026Minter said Lamar Jackson will be placed on injured reserve with his right thumb injury and had not had surgery yet.
- Nov 4, 2026ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the Cardinals are finalizing a trade sending quarterback Jacoby Brissett to the Ravens, expected to be completed this weekend; Huntley's turf toe injury will end his season, sources said.
- Nov 5, 2026Fagnano, practicing with a brace on his injured right ankle, is set to start against the Jaguars; Baltimore's other active quarterbacks are Slovis and Reed, both signed within the past three days.
Key terms
- undrafted
- A professional athlete who is not under contract with any team and is free to sign with another.
- AFC North
- One of the four divisions of the American Football Conference in the National Football League, grouping the Ravens, Bengals, Browns and Steelers.
- injured reserve
- A designation in North American pro sports leagues for athletes who are injured and unable to play.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Minter said Fagnano is "cool, calm and collected," doesn't get rattled, and operated well in the preseason, so "you certainly feel good about it."
- Analysts
- ESPN Analytics gives Baltimore a 6.4% chance of making the playoffs and an 0.5% chance of winning the division, and the Ravens are 7-14 since 2019 when Jackson isn't the starter.
- Public
- Fagnano said: "I know I am a good football player. I think I belong in this league."
Still unverified
The Brissett trade is reported by sources (ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport) as being finalized and expected to be completed this weekend, not confirmed by the teams. Huntley's toe injury being season-ending is reported by sources, not confirmed by the team. Jackson's thumb injury is described as potentially season-ending.