Baltimore Ravens' quarterback crisis deepened in a crucial Week 8 game against the Buffalo Bills when starter Lamar Jackson injured his thumb on the first offensive play and backup Tyler Huntley suffered a right toe injury in the second quarter, forcing the team to turn to rookie third-string quarterback Joe Fagnano.
Fagnano, a 25-year-old undrafted free agent from the University of Connecticut, made his NFL debut and completed 10 of 12 passes for 91 yards with one interception while playing approximately two and a half quarters.
Jackson hit his thumb on Bills defensive end Gregory Rousseau and immediately left for the locker room. Huntley, who had started the previous three games in Jackson's absence, had his foot caught and rolled up by Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver, an injury described as a classic turf toe mechanism. Huntley was listed as questionable to return.
Fagnano's path to the NFL has been unconventional. He began his collegiate career as a walk-on at the University of Maine, an FCS program, in 2019. He quickly earned a scholarship and the backup role. His college debut also came after the starter was injured, and in his first start he threw five touchdown passes in an upset win over FBS program Liberty. The 2020 season was limited to four games due to COVID-19, and an injury limited him to four games in 2021. After a solid 2022 season, he transferred to UConn.
A season-ending shoulder injury two games into his first UConn season in 2023 sidelined him, but he played most of the 2024 season. He drew NFL attention with an outstanding 2025 campaign that included 28 passing touchdowns, one interception, and 3,448 passing yards.
The Ravens invited Fagnano to a rookie tryout where he beat out Diego Pavia for a spot on the summer roster. He impressed in the preseason with a nearly 75% completion percentage, three touchdowns, and one interception. Now he finds himself attempting to halt Baltimore's two-game losing streak.
According to the CBS broadcast, running back Justice Hill would serve as the emergency quarterback should Fagnano also be injured.
