It can be a cruel world sometimes, or at a minimum, a cruel NFL. Joe Fagnano was handed an unenviable assignment Thursday night. As the Baltimore Ravens' QB1 of the moment, the undrafted quarterback had only a few days to prepare for his first NFL start, and he did so while dealing with a heavily wrapped right ankle.

The circumstances were hardly ideal, but the Ravens needed him to give the offense a chance against a very good Jacksonville Jaguars team. The task proved too difficult as Fagnano completed 10 of 18 passes for 60 yards and threw two interceptions in a 33-10 Week 9 defeat.

Baltimore leaned heavily on Derrick Henry in the Wildcat formation, limiting Fagnano's opportunities to operate a conventional passing offense. Still, the rookie quarterback struggled to produce when asked to throw, and his second-half mistakes made the climb even steeper. There wasn't much to celebrate in Fagnano's debut, although the circumstances deserve consideration when evaluating his performance.

Joe Fagnano's best throw: A legitimate NFL completion

Fagnano's best moment came during Baltimore's second offensive possession, which carried over from the first quarter into the second. Facing third-and-6 at the 14:56 mark, he took the shotgun snap, set his feet, and delivered a seven-yard strike to Mark Andrews between two Jacksonville defenders.

It wasn't spectacular, but it was a quality throw in a meaningful situation. Fagnano showed he could make an NFL-caliber pass when given the opportunity.

Worst throws: Two interceptions overshadow the positives

This one will sadly be remembered, in part, for two interceptions. The first could have happened to anyone and wasn't entirely on Fagnano. Facing a rush with little time to set his feet, the rookie unfortunately threw one off target, past his intended receiver (Rashod Bateman), and into Montaric Brown's hands.

The second pick was worse, considerably worse given the circumstances. Baltimore's first drive of the fourth quarter lasted one play. A first-and-ten attempt intended for Zay Flowers didn't have any pop behind it. Flowers ran a simple two-to-three-yard route towards the sideline, but the pass had little velocity and landed slightly behind the receiver. It took too long to arrive, allowing Jourdan Lewis to step in front of Flowers. The defender almost looked like the intended receiver.

Accuracy and ball location: D

Completing 10 of 18 passes isn't disastrous on its own, but 60 yards tells a different story. Fagnano averaged just 3.3 yards per attempt, and the lack of downfield production made it difficult for Baltimore to sustain drives through the air. The ankle injury and limited preparation undoubtedly complicated matters, but the passing attack never developed into a dependable option.

Processing and field vision: D

It's hard to grade this one. The conservative game plan limited what Fagnano could demonstrate, but he also didn't consistently find ways to move the offense through the air. Baltimore's lack of passing production made it easier for Jacksonville to focus on stopping Henry, which made the offense predictable.

Intangibles and off-script plays: C-

Making a first career start under these circumstances required composure. Fagnano took the assignment despite his ankle injury and didn't shy away from the opportunity. However, he didn't make enough positive plays to suggest he could compensate for the limitations of Baltimore's offensive approach.

Decision-making: D

Execution may be more of an issue than decision-making. Fagnano's two interceptions came in the second half, when he was needed to lift his game higher. There were too many errors where there wasn't room for any, but there were occasional moments. Seeing him keep the football on a run-pass option of sorts and scramble for a first down showed off some athleticism.

Leadership: C

Fagnano stepped into an uncomfortable situation and gave Baltimore what he could. However, there wasn't enough production to help settle an offense that desperately needed stability. Leadership wasn't the issue. He appeared to have the support of his teammates, which is all you can ask for.

Overall grade: D-

Fagnano's first start was difficult to evaluate without acknowledging the circumstances, but the production simply wasn't there. Jacoby Brissett's arrival likely means Baltimore will turn to a more experienced option, leaving Fagnano waiting for another opportunity. Whether that opportunity comes this season remains to be seen.