Baltimore Ravens Turn to Joe Fagnano After Quarterback Injuries

Baltimore Ravens Turn to Joe Fagnano Amidst Multiple Quarterback Injuries

The Baltimore Ravens faced an unexpected crisis when injuries forced both starting options out of action during a game in Buffalo. Undrafted rookie joe fagnano was pressed into service as the emergency third quarterback after Tyler Huntley left the field with a toe injury in the first half, following the departure of Lamar Jackson.

This unusual sequence made Baltimore the first team to deploy three different passing quarterbacks before halftime since the 2017 Dallas Cowboys. Head Coach Jesse Minter noted that Fagnano handled a challenging assignment well despite receiving no first-team practice repetitions during the week.

Challenges for the Ravens Emergency QB

Thrust into regular-season action against a blitz-heavy Buffalo defense, Fagnano experienced a tough outing as the team fell in a 36-10 defeat. He finished the contest completing 10 of 21 passing attempts for 91 yards, alongside one interception and a lost fumble. In the second half, the rookie also sustained a lower-body injury following an illegal hit.

Despite the difficult circumstances, Fagnano initially provided an offensive spark by connecting with rookie tight end Josh Cuevas for a 15-yard gain and rookie wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane for a 13-yard pickup. However, the offense ultimately struggled to sustain momentum, managing only 144 total yards and converting just 3 of 13 third-down attempts.

Looking Ahead to Potential Starts

Earlier in the year, Fagnano put together a strong preseason performance, leading all NFL quarterbacks with 509 passing yards across three games while posting three touchdowns, one interception, and a 100.4 passer rating.

With Jackson scheduled for surgery and placement on the injured reserve list, and Huntley's availability remaining unconfirmed, Fagnano could potentially make his first career start on Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“If it is me and whoever's down or whatever it is, I'm just going to put my best foot forward and give the Ravens everything that I have,” Fagnano stated regarding the upcoming schedule.

Sources: Baltimore Ravens, Syracuse.com, NBC Sports.