Joe Fagnano has done exactly what an undrafted quarterback is supposed to do in the preseason: make the decision uncomfortable.
The former UConn passer put together a strong summer with the Baltimore Ravens, and after Baltimore rolled through a 3-0 preseason, he’s given first-year head coach Jesse Minter something to think about heading into Sunday’s roster cuts. Minter didn’t hide that Friday night after the Ravens’ 41-3 win over the Washington Commanders in Baltimore.
“To his credit, he's put it on tape and he's put it out there,” Minter said. “He's been really consistent. He's played a certain way almost all three games, and so that's definitely something we'll have to take a look at.”
For Fagnano, that’s the kind of response he was chasing. His college path stretched across seven seasons because of injuries and the extra COVID year granted to players in 2020, but he stayed on the hunt for an NFL opening. His record-setting 2025 season at UConn helped get him into this position, and he’s made the most of the opportunity.
“My goal coming in was just to make the most of my opportunities,” Fagnano said after the game. “What I can control is what I want to control.
The stuff that is out of my hands is out of my hands. I think I have done a nice job to put myself in a good position.
I can put my head on the pillow tonight and sleep well knowing that I gave all I had.”
Now the real question is whether Baltimore keeps him around when the roster goes down to 53 by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Lamar Jackson is locked in as the starter, and Tyler Huntley remains the veteran backup. That leaves Fagnano fighting for a third spot, and the Ravens have to decide whether they want to carry three quarterbacks.
Jackson, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, is entering his ninth NFL season at 29 with a 76-31 record as a starter. Even so, the Ravens have needed dependable depth behind him, and they’ve gotten a good look at Fagnano this month.
One report summed it up this way: “There is no world in which Tyler Huntley will be unseated as the backup quarterback for Lamar Jackson, but Fagnano deserves a shot with another team.
“Fagnano put together an impressive performance, where he continued to show poise in the pocket and played like a veteran.
“…The Ravens may want to keep him on the roster as their third emergency option, but if they do not, the rookie should get a shot elsewhere.”
In Other News...
Former UConn QB Just Turned A Long Shot Into Something Real
Joe Fagnanos path from UConn to Baltimore has already taken a meaningful turn. After arriving as an undrafted free agent, the former Huskies quarterback put together a preseason that gave the Ravens reason to keep him around, showing enough poise and consistency to survive the first major roster cut and land on the clubs initial 53-man roster.
Fagnano finished the exhibition slate with steady numbers and a strong enough showing to make his case hard to ignore, even in a quarterback room where every rep matters. Ravens head coach Jesse Minter pointed to that consistency, but the larger question now is what comes next, since Fagnanos exact role in Baltimore still needs to be sorted out. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Just Entered A Huge Week For Dan Hurley's Recruiting Push
UConn is turning a major stretch on the calendar into a recruiting showcase, with Dan Hurley and his staff set to host a deep group of 2027 targets as the program continues to build out its next wave of talent. The Huskies have lined up seven visitors, and the list is strong enough to give the staff a real chance to make an early impression on some of the most coveted young players in the country.
The week begins on Friday with a visit from one of the class standout names, and the rest of the group includes a cluster of five-star prospects who are already highly regarded nationally and at their positions. For a program that has made a habit of thinking big on the recruiting trail, this is the kind of run of campus visits that can shape where things go next. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Still Has One Huge Decision Hanging Over The Season Opener
The quarterback picture remains the biggest storyline hanging over UConn as the season opener against Lafayette approaches, and Jason Candle still has not publicly settled on a starter. Tennessee transfer Jake Merklinger, Toledo transfer Kalieb Osborne and fourth-year player Tucker McDonald have all stayed in the mix, giving the Huskies a three-man race that has stretched through camp and into game week.
Candle and players have continued to project confidence in all three options, which is why the delayed decision has not turned into visible concern inside the program. Even so, the closer UConn gets to kickoff, the more that choice shapes everything else about the opener, from the rhythm of the offense to how the Huskies try to establish themselves from the first series. [Read more 🡒]