The Baltimore Ravens were forced to turn to an unlikely option at quarterback Sunday afternoon, with undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano making his NFL regular-season debut after injuries sidelined Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley against the Buffalo Bills.

Fagnano, a former Connecticut standout who earned his roster spot after an impressive preseason, entered the game when Huntley suffered a toe injury and was listed as questionable to return. Jackson had already been ruled out after injuring his right thumb on Baltimore's first offensive play, leaving the Ravens without either of their top two quarterbacks in a game with significant AFC playoff implications.

The rookie entered Sunday as Baltimore's emergency third quarterback and was eligible to play after injuries forced Jackson and Huntley from the lineup. His appearance marked another unexpected development for a Ravens offense that has struggled with injuries and inconsistent production throughout the first half of the season.

Who is Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano?

Fagnano joined Baltimore in 2026 after finishing his college career at Connecticut, where he developed into a productive passer following an earlier stint at Maine. He went undrafted but earned an opportunity with the Ravens through a rookie minicamp tryout and eventually secured a spot on the team's initial 53-man roster.

The quarterback made a strong impression during the preseason, completing 74.7% of his passes and leading the NFL with 509 passing yards across three exhibition games. His poise, accuracy, and ability to execute the offense helped convince Baltimore's coaching staff that he deserved a roster spot despite arriving without the expectations typically associated with a draft pick.

Fagnano entered the regular season as Baltimore's third quarterback behind Jackson and Huntley, giving the Ravens a developmental option with limited professional experience. He had not taken a regular-season snap before Sunday's matchup, making his unexpected appearance against Buffalo the most significant opportunity of his young NFL career.

Ravens lose Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley to injuries

Baltimore's quarterback situation deteriorated almost immediately Sunday when Jackson suffered a right thumb injury while attempting a pass on the Ravens' first offensive play. The two-time NFL MVP had returned after missing three consecutive games with an ankle injury, but his afternoon ended before he could establish any rhythm against Buffalo.

Huntley replaced Jackson and took over an offense that had already spent three games adjusting to the starter's absence. The veteran helped Baltimore defeat New Orleans earlier in the season but couldn't prevent consecutive losses to Cleveland and Cincinnati, leaving the Ravens at 4-3 entering their Week 8 matchup.

When Huntley subsequently suffered a toe injury, Baltimore turned to Fagnano. The rookie's insertion placed additional pressure on offensive coordinator Declan Doyle to establish a manageable approach for a quarterback making his first regular-season appearance against one of the AFC's leading contenders.

Joe Fagnano faces difficult challenge in first NFL appearance

Fagnano's debut comes at a particularly difficult time for Baltimore, which entered Sunday's game attempting to end a two-game losing streak and improve its position in the AFC playoff race. The Ravens have already dealt with injuries across their offensive line, and the quarterback changes create another obstacle for an offense that needs consistent protection and more reliable production.

Running back Derrick Henry could become especially important as Baltimore adjusts its offensive approach. Establishing the running game would ease pressure on Fagnano, allowing the rookie to operate in more favorable down-and-distance situations rather than repeatedly facing obvious passing downs against Buffalo.