Baltimore Ravens' quarterback depth was tested severely in a crucial Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills on November 1, 2026. Starter Lamar Jackson, returning from an ankle injury, injured his thumb on the first offensive play after hitting it against Bills defensive end Gregory Rousseau. Backup Tyler Huntley, who had started the previous three games, then suffered a right foot injury when his foot was rolled up by Ed Oliver in the second quarter. Huntley was listed as questionable to return.
Emergency Debut for Joe Fagnano
With both quarterbacks sidelined, the Ravens turned to third-string rookie Joe Fagnano, an undrafted free agent out of UConn. Fagnano played approximately two and a half quarters, completing 10 of 12 passes for 91 yards with one interception. According to the broadcast, running back Justice Hill would serve as the emergency quarterback should Fagnano also go down.
Fagnano's Journey to the NFL
Fagnano, 25, took an unconventional path to the NFL. He began his collegiate career as a walk-on at FCS program Maine in 2019, quickly earning a scholarship and the backup role. His college debut came after the starter was injured, and in his first start he threw five touchdown passes in an upset win over FBS program Liberty. The 2020 season was limited to four games due to COVID-19, and he played only four games in 2021 due to injury. After a solid 2022 season, he transferred to UConn. A season-ending shoulder injury cut short his 2023 debut after two games, but he played most of the 2024 season and broke out in 2025 with 28 passing touchdowns, one interception, and 3,448 passing yards.
The Ravens invited Fagnano to a rookie tryout where he beat out Diego Pavia for a spot on the summer roster. He impressed during the preseason with a nearly 75% completion percentage, three touchdowns, and one interception. Now, the rookie finds himself attempting to halt Baltimore's two-game losing streak in his first regular-season action.
