The Baltimore Ravens are handing the offense to a quarterback who had never taken an NFL snap until last Sunday. Head coach Jesse Minter announced on Tuesday that undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano will make his first career start when Baltimore hosts the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night at M&T Bank Stadium.
“We’ll be starting Joe at quarterback this week on Thursday,” Minter said, as reported by CBS Sports.
Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley both hurt
The decision was forced by a brutal afternoon against Buffalo. On Baltimore’s very first offensive play, Lamar Jackson’s throwing hand struck the helmet of Bills pass rusher Gregory Rousseau. Jackson hurt his right thumb, headed to the locker room and did not return. Minter said after the game that Jackson needs surgery and will go on injured reserve, and when asked if the injury could end his season, the coach answered “potentially,” according to the team’s website. It was Jackson’s first game back after he sat out three games earlier this fall with an ankle problem.
Backup Tyler Huntley replaced him but lasted only 10 snaps before suffering turf toe. Minter has said Huntley could also land on IR, which would keep him out for at least four games. That left Fagnano, who was active as the emergency third quarterback, to finish a 36-10 loss.
Who is Joe Fagnano?
Fagnano is 25 and went unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft after a college career that started at Maine and ended at UConn. He earned a place on the 53-man roster this summer by beating out fellow undrafted rookie Diego Pavia, completing 56 of 75 preseason passes for 509 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
His debut against the Bills was rough. Buffalo blitzed him heavily, and he finished 10 of 21 for 91 yards with an interception, a lost fumble and three sacks taken, per Pro Football Rumors.
He also came out of that game with a sore right ankle after a low hit from Ed Oliver. The ankle was heavily taped on Tuesday, but Fagnano was a full participant in practice and kept his answer short when asked how it felt: “Fine.”
Minter likes what he has seen from the rookie’s temperament. “He’s cool, calm and collected; doesn’t really get rattled, has a really good demeanor,” the coach said. Fagnano kept his own focus simple: “My job is to play to the best of my ability.”
New depth behind the rookie
With two quarterbacks sidelined, the front office has scrambled to rebuild the depth chart. Baltimore brought Austin Reed back to the practice squad on Monday and on Tuesday signed Kedon Slovis away from Green Bay’s practice squad. Both entered the league as undrafted free agents in 2024.
The quarterback room is not the only spot affected. Kicker Tyler Loop has been moved to injured reserve with a right groin injury, so Jake Moody is set to handle kicking duties on Thursday.
Baltimore sits at 4-4 after three straight losses, while Jacksonville arrives at 5-2 and on top of the AFC South. The short week gives Fagnano only a few days of first-team practice before the biggest night of his young career.
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