Ravens Rookie Joe Fagnano Set to Start as Quarterback Injuries Mount

Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter confirmed on Monday that undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano will start the team's Week 9 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The contest is scheduled for Thursday night. This decision follows a week of severe injuries to the team's quarterback group that forced a rapid reshuffle of the depth chart.

The starting role moved away from veteran Lamar Jackson after he suffered a right thumb injury during the Week 8 game against the Buffalo Bills. Jackson exited the contest after a collision with Buffalo pass rusher Greg Rousseau on the first offensive snap. The injury required surgery. Tyler Huntley, the backup, took over the starting duties but also left the field during that same game due to a turf toe injury.

Medical staff expect to place both Jackson and Huntley on injured reserve before the Jaguars game begins. This move indicates that Fagnano's start may be the first of several appearances for the young player this season. Kicker Tyler Loop is also set to join the injured reserve list, further altering the roster for the upcoming week.

Fagnano gained his first experience in the starting role under pressure during the loss to Buffalo last week. The 25-year-old completed 10 of 21 pass attempts for 91 yards. He threw one interception and lost a fumble in that game. He joined the Baltimore organization in the spring after going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Connecticut.

During the summer training period, Fagnano earned a spot on the opening 53-man roster by outperforming fellow undrafted rookie Diego Pavia. Minter noted that Fagnano had limited repetitions in organized team activities because of the depth at the quarterback position. The rookie began to earn more playing time when injuries occurred roughly ten days before the first preseason game.

Minter cited the rookie's strong preseason performance as a key factor in his confidence. Fagnano completed 56 of 75 passes for 509 yards during that period. He recorded three passing touchdowns and one interception, resulting in a 74.7 percent completion percentage.

Fagnano may not be fully healthy for the upcoming contest. He appeared to injure his ankle during the loss to Buffalo but remained in the game. On Tuesday, he was observed at practice wearing a large brace on his right ankle. When asked about the injury after practice, Fagnano described his condition as good, noting that bumps and bruises are part of the physical nature of the sport.