The Baltimore Ravens had been compelled to show to an unlikely possibility at quarterback Sunday afternoon, with undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano making his NFL regular-season debut after accidents sidelined Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley towards the Buffalo Payments.
Fagnano, a former Connecticut standout who earned his roster spot after a formidable preseason, entered the sport when Huntley suffered a toe damage and was listed as questionable to return. Jackson had already been dominated out after injuring his proper thumb on Baltimore’s first offensive play, leaving the Ravens with out both of their prime two quarterbacks in a sport with important AFC playoff implications.
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The rookie entered Sunday as Baltimore’s emergency third quarterback and was eligible to play after accidents compelled Jackson and Huntley from the lineup. His look marked one other surprising improvement for a Ravens offense that has struggled with accidents and inconsistent manufacturing all through the primary half of the season.
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Who’s Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano?
Fagnano joined Baltimore in 2026 after ending his faculty profession at Connecticut, the place he developed right into a productive passer following an earlier stint at Maine. He went undrafted however earned a chance with the Ravens via a rookie minicamp tryout and finally secured a spot on the workforce’s preliminary 53-man roster.
The quarterback made a robust impression through the preseason, finishing 74.7% of his passes and main the NFL with 509 passing yards throughout three exhibition video games. His poise, accuracy, and talent to execute the offense helped persuade Baltimore’s teaching workers that he deserved a roster spot regardless of arriving with out the expectations usually related to a draft decide.
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Fagnano entered the common season as Baltimore’s third quarterback behind Jackson and Huntley, giving the Ravens a developmental possibility with restricted skilled expertise. He had not taken a regular-season snap earlier than Sunday’s matchup, making his surprising look towards Buffalo probably the most important alternative of his younger NFL profession.
Ravens lose Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley to accidents
Baltimore’s quarterback state of affairs deteriorated virtually instantly Sunday when Jackson suffered a proper thumb damage whereas making an attempt a go on the Ravens’ first offensive play. The 2-time NFL MVP had returned after lacking three consecutive video games with an ankle damage, however his afternoon ended earlier than he may set up any rhythm towards Buffalo.
Huntley changed Jackson and took over an offense that had already spent three video games adjusting to the starter’s absence. The veteran helped Baltimore defeat New Orleans earlier within the season however could not forestall consecutive losses to Cleveland and Cincinnati, leaving the Ravens at 4-3 coming into their Week 8 matchup.
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When Huntley subsequently suffered a toe damage, Baltimore turned to Fagnano. The rookie’s insertion positioned further stress on offensive coordinator Declan Doyle to determine a manageable strategy for a quarterback making his first regular-season look towards one of many AFC’s main contenders.
Joe Fagnano faces troublesome problem in first NFL look
Fagnano’s debut comes at a very troublesome time for Baltimore, which entered Sunday’s sport making an attempt to finish a two-game shedding streak and enhance its place within the AFC playoff race. The Ravens have already handled accidents throughout their offensive line, and the quarterback adjustments create one other impediment for an offense that wants constant safety and extra dependable manufacturing.
Working again Derrick Henry may turn into particularly necessary as Baltimore adjusts its offensive strategy. Establishing the working sport would ease stress on Fagnano, permitting the rookie to function in additional favorable down-and-distance conditions fairly than repeatedly going through apparent passing downs towards Buffalo.
This text initially appeared on Ravens Wire: Joe Fagnano makes NFL debut after Ravens lose two quarterbacks
