Skyler Bell’s NFL preseason debut will likely have to wait, but Joe Fagnano is already making his mark in Baltimore.
Bell, the former UConn receiver who capped a historic 2025 season by becoming the program’s first consensus All-American and a Biletnikoff Award finalist, has been out for several weeks with what was first called a “lower body injury.” He later told Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic that the issue is a groin injury suffered during the Bills’ first practice at the new Highmark Stadium on Aug. 8.
He finally returned to the field Thursday, working in pads alongside members of Buffalo’s training staff, but he still sounded like a player eager to put the setback behind him.
“I was super, super frustrated,” Bell told The Athletic. “You dream all the time to be in this position, and you work so hard to get here, and it’s taken away from you.
So you just try not to take things for granted. I was glad to be back out here running a little bit with the pads on, having my helmet on in here.
So, it felt good.”
Buscaglia reported that Bell “probably won’t play” Saturday when Buffalo visits Cleveland, though Bell’s target is the Bills’ final preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday. Former UConn offensive lineman Chase Lundt, a sixth-round pick by Buffalo last year, is expected to get action as he continues his push for a 53-man roster spot.
While Bell works his way back, Fagnano keeps stacking positive reviews in Baltimore.
The former UConn quarterback, coming off one of the best seasons ever for a Husky passer in a near mistake-free 2025, drew “major props” from coach Jesse Minter after his preseason debut last weekend. Fagnano appears to have separated himself in the Ravens’ quarterback mix and now looks like the No. 3 option behind two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and veteran backup Tyler Huntley.
The path there hasn’t been flashy, but it has been steady. Fagnano signed a three-year rookie contract with Baltimore in late April, stayed quiet through camp and outlasted Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia, who signed a similar deal before being waived in late July. When Skylar Thompson went on injured reserve, the battle for the third quarterback spot narrowed to Fagnano and former Western Kentucky quarterback Austin Reed.
Fagnano made the most of his chance in Baltimore’s 24-7 preseason win over the Eagles. He handled most of the snaps, led three scoring drives and finished 22 of 28 for 224 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Huntley went 6 of 7 for 76 yards in the first quarter, while Reed completed both of his passes for 14 yards late in the fourth.
“Man, he clearly handled it pretty well. Major shout out to him,” Minter said of his 25-year-old rookie.
“The more opportunities he has gotten over the last week, the better he has played. And it is a credit to him because he did not get a ton of reps, and he has never gone in there and not known what to do, not known how to operate, not known how to run the huddle.
So major props to Joe.”
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