The Baltimore Ravens will start undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano at quarterback when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Week 9 Thursday night opener, head coach Jesse Minter announced.
The decision comes after injuries decimated the Ravens' quarterback depth chart. Starter Lamar Jackson suffered a right thumb injury requiring surgery during the Week 8 loss to the Buffalo Bills, while backup Tyler Huntley is dealing with a turf toe injury. Both are likely headed to injured reserve before Thursday's game.
Fagnano, a 25-year-old rookie from UConn who went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, was thrust into action last week after Jackson's injury on the first offensive snap. He completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards with one interception and lost a fumble. Despite the rough debut, Minter expressed confidence in the young quarterback.
"We'll be starting Joe at quarterback this week on Thursday," Minter said. "An opportunity we're fired up about. Excited to play in front of our fans Thursday night against a really good team." Minter praised Fagnano's preseason performance, where he completed 56 of 75 passes (74.7%) for 509 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.
Fagnano may not be fully healthy either. He appeared to injure his ankle during the Bills game but remained in the contest. At Tuesday's practice, he wore a significant brace on his right ankle. "Every game you got bumps and bruises. Just football. Physical game we play. Feels good, though," Fagnano said.
The Ravens also expect to place kicker Tyler Loop on injured reserve. With Jackson and Huntley sidelined, Fagnano's start against Jacksonville could be the first of several as Baltimore navigates a critical stretch of the season.
