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Ravens turn to undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano after Lamar Jackson lands on IR, coach Jessie Minter says
The Baltimore Ravens will start undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano at quarterback against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night, after Lamar Jackson suffered a thumb injury and Tyler Huntley was also hurt. The decision gives Fagnano his first NFL start as Baltimore tries to halt a three-game losing run.
Fagnano, 25, joined the Ravens after a strong pre-season and has mostly been their third-choice quarterback. He threw for 91 yards in his NFL debut and practised on Tuesday wearing a brace on his right ankle. If he starts as expected, he will be the second undrafted rookie to start a regular-season game for Baltimore; it remains unclear whether Huntley can serve as his backup.
In short
- Joe Fagnano is set for his first NFL start on Thursday.
- Lamar Jackson is out after a thumb injury.
- Baltimore have lost three games in a row.
Explained simply
The Baltimore Ravens are an American football team in the NFL, the top professional league in the United States. The quarterback leads the offence and directs plays, so injuries in that position can force a team to rely on less experienced players.
Lamar Jackson is Baltimore’s established starting quarterback, while Tyler Huntley has often served as his backup. Joe Fagnano joined the team as an undrafted rookie, meaning no NFL team selected him in the annual draft, and had mainly been third in the depth order.
The Ravens are trying to end a run of three defeats, and their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars is part of the regular season. Fagnano’s experience is limited, so his role matters to how Baltimore can organise its offence while its usual quarterbacks are unavailable.