The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to acquire quarterback Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals in a trade aimed at addressing a severe injury crisis at the position.
Two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson suffered a thumb injury requiring surgery on his first pass attempt against the Buffalo Bills, an injury that could end his season. Backup Tyler Huntley then sustained a season-ending turf toe injury, leaving undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano, who is also dealing with an ankle issue, as the likely starter for the Ravens' Week 9 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Brissett, who turns 34 next month, has spent the past two seasons with the Cardinals. He was recently demoted to third-string after Gardner Minshew entered the game against the Dallas Cowboys, threw three touchdowns, and led a 14-point fourth-quarter comeback to secure a 33-30 overtime victory. Before being replaced, Brissett completed 10 of 23 passes for 119 yards with one interception.
This season, Brissett has completed 63.3% of his passes for 1,719 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in eight games. CBS Sports Research notes that his 75.6 yards per game to tight end Trey McBride entering Week 8 represent the most by a quarterback-tight end combination since 1970 (minimum 15 games).
The trade marks the second time Brissett has been traded in his career and makes the Ravens his seventh team. He has started 73 career games (23-50 record) and has thrown 86 more touchdowns than the rest of Baltimore's healthy quarterbacks combined. His career interception rate of 1.5% is tied for the second-lowest in NFL history behind Aaron Rodgers' 1.4%.
Over the past 365 days, Brissett is one of only five quarterbacks to throw for 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns, joining Drake Maye, Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, and Dak Prescott. The move also improves his defensive support: the Cardinals have allowed 32.6 points per game over the last calendar year, the highest in the NFL, while the Ravens have allowed 22.6 points per game in the same span.
Baltimore sits at 4-4 and last in the AFC North, but hopes a veteran presence under center can propel the team toward a playoff berth.
