Joe Fagnano’s first NFL start is coming under less-than-ideal circumstances, and the Ravens are leaning on him anyway.
Head coach Jesse Minter said Tuesday that the undrafted rookie will start at quarterback Thursday night against Jacksonville, with Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley both out. Jackson is expected to have surgery and go on injured reserve because of a right thumb injury, while Huntley is also in line to miss multiple games with a toe issue.
That leaves Baltimore in a rough spot at 4-4 after three straight losses, and it puts even more attention on Fagnano’s own health. He showed up at practice with his right ankle heavily wrapped, though he was listed as a full participant on the injury report. Fagnano said after practice that the ankle was fine.
“Every game, you’ve got bumps and bruises. It’s just football,” said Fagnano, who will become just the second undrafted quarterback in franchise history to start a game as a rookie.
“It’s a physical game we play. It feels good though.”
Fagnano’s only NFL action so far came in Buffalo, where he entered in emergency relief of Jackson and Huntley and finished 10-for-21 for 91 yards with an interception. The Ravens believe he’s the only quarterback on the roster who knows enough of the offense to handle the start, but his mobility is now a question behind an offensive line that has not been stellar in 2026.
Baltimore also made a move at quarterback behind him. After signing Austin Reed to the practice squad Monday, the team added Kedon Slovis to the 53-man roster from Green Bay’s practice squad.
Because Reed spent 2 1/2 weeks with the Ravens during the preseason and knows Declan Doyle’s offense better, he would appear to be the No. 2 quarterback Thursday, with Slovis as the emergency No. 3.
The changes don’t stop there. The Ravens placed kicker Tyler Loop on injured reserve with a groin injury, which opens the door for Jake Moody to handle kicking duties against the Jaguars. Moody had already been back on Baltimore’s practice squad since Oct. 20 after a previous stint there in the first half of September, and he now gets another shot after Loop’s uneven first half of the season.
“It’s kind of a crazy business. You never really know when you’re going to get an opportunity,” Moody said. “Nothing’s really guaranteed in this league, so you just have to take advantage of the opportunities you do get and just kind of run with it.”
Moody has made 64 of 82 field goal attempts in his NFL career with San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington.
There is at least a chance Baltimore gets one more piece back. Rookie right guard Vega Ioane practiced fully Tuesday and seems to have a good shot to return after missing one game with a right knee injury suffered in the Week 7 loss to Cincinnati. Safety Jaylinn Hawkins, though, is expected to miss a third straight game with a knee injury.
Jacksonville arrives at 5-2 and has won four of its last five, but the Jaguars are dealing with injury problems of their own on a short week. They placed defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton and safety Eric Murray on injured reserve Tuesday, and running back Bhayshul Tuten is dealing with an ankle and foot issue. If Tuten can’t go or is limited, Chris Rodriguez may be asked to take on more of the backfield workload.
Baltimore’s full injury report listed Calais Campbell (rest), Jaylinn Hawkins (knee), Tyler Huntley (toe), and Lamar Jackson (right thumb) as non-participants. John Jenkins (knee), Roger Rosengarten (ankle), and John Simpson (back) were limited. Mark Andrews (hand), Joe Fagnano (ankle), Trey Hendrickson (finger/ribs), Matt Hibner (hand), Justice Hill (groin), Vega Ioane (knee), Adam Randall (neck), Roquan Smith (foot), Ronnie Stanley (toe/ankle), and Nate Wiggins (stinger) were full participants.
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