The NFL enters Week 9 with unprecedented quarterback turmoil. The Baltimore Ravens will start undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night after losing Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley to injury. Fagnano, who made his debut in Week 8 completing 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards and an interception, becomes the second undrafted rookie to start for the Ravens. Meanwhile, Baltimore is finalizing a trade for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (3-5 record this season), though the deal is not expected to be completed until the weekend, meaning Brissett will not play Thursday.
Other teams are also shuffling quarterbacks: the Philadelphia Eagles will start Joe Milton over Tanner McKee; the Seattle Seahawks turn to Drew Lock with Sam Darnold sidelined by a quad injury; the Cleveland Browns placed Deshaun Watson in concussion protocol, potentially elevating Shedeur Sanders; and the Minnesota Vikings may start Carson Wentz if Kyler Murray's hamstring injury keeps him out against the Buffalo Bills.
For Thursday's Jaguars-Ravens matchup, all five CBS Sports experts pick Jacksonville to win comfortably, with scores ranging from 27-6 to 30-13. The Jaguars' defense, which has forced multiple turnovers in four wins this season, faces a Ravens offense relying heavily on Derrick Henry, who has averaged 127.7 rushing yards in his last six games against Jacksonville. Prop bets highlighted include Justice Hill over 2.5 receptions and new Ravens kicker Jake Moody over 4.5 points.
Week 9 expert picks feature Pete Prisco taking the Saints (-1.5) over the Browns, Tyler Sullivan favoring the Bears (-6.5) over the Buccaneers, Jordan Dajani backing the Broncos (-2.5) over the Panthers, Jared Dubin selecting the Packers (+3) to upset the Patriots, and John Breech predicting a Bengals (-3) shootout win over the Falcons in Madrid.
In the latest quarterback power rankings, Josh Allen reclaims the top spot leading the league in yards per attempt (8.7) and total touchdowns (20). Jared Goff ranks second with 15 touchdowns and just one interception, while Brock Purdy sits third with a 110.1 passer rating. At the bottom, Joe Fagnano ranks 32nd after his debut performance.
The midseason all-rookie offensive team includes Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels (undrafted), Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love, Browns receivers K.C. Concepcion and Denzel Boston, Titans receiver Carnell Tate, Jets tight end Kenyon Sadiq, and offensive linemen Spencer Fano (Browns), Kadyn Proctor (Dolphins), Jake Slaughter (Chargers), Vega Ioane (Ravens), and Blake Miller (Lions).
Additional notes: Lions linebacker Jack Campbell, hospitalized since a Week 8 injury, reported encouraging progress with full lower-body movement. 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk plans to apply for reinstatement from the reserve/left team list. The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced contributor nominees for the Class of 2027: Ralph Hay, Robert Kraft, Virginia McCaskey, Doug Williams, and John Wooten.
