Joe Fagnano, a 25‑year‑old undrafted rookie, was thrust into the starting quarterback role for the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night after two‑time MVP Lamar Jackson and backup Tyler Huntley were placed on injured reserve. With only three days to prepare, Fagnano completed 10 of 18 passes for 60 yards and threw two interceptions in the Ravens’ 33‑10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Game flow and key moments
The Ravens leaned heavily on a Wildcat formation featuring running back Derrick Henry to protect the inexperienced signal‑caller. Early in the first half, Jacksonville’s quarterback Trevor Lawrence connected with wide receiver Parker Washington on a 50‑yard touchdown, extending the lead to 17‑3 shortly before halftime.
Fagnano’s attempts to spark a comeback after the break fell short. He threw interceptions to Jaguars cornerbacks Montaric Brown and Jourdan Lewis on similar out routes aimed at Zay Flowers. The Ravens also struggled with discipline, committing four false‑start penalties and seeing tight end Mark Andrews fumble a snap on a fourth‑down attempt in the third quarter.
Coaches’ perspective
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter praised Fagnano’s attitude despite the rough outing. “I know that our front office and ownership are going to do what’s necessary to give us a chance,” Minter said. “Tons of respect for Joe and how he operated and how he played. Anybody that comes in, we’ll see how it goes, and we’ll see where it takes us.”
Minter also noted the impact of the short preparation week, saying, “I thought the team was ready to play, and from a competitive standpoint, I really think the explosive play before the half really kind of broke the game open.”
Looking ahead
Before the Tuesday trade deadline, the Ravens are expected to add veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who started Arizona’s first eight games before losing the job to Gardner Minshew. If the trade goes through, Fagnano will likely return to the bench for Baltimore’s Week 10 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night.
Fagnano remained optimistic about the game plan, acknowledging the reliance on Derrick Henry’s running. “Derrick Henry, you want to get him to the ball anyway, so that was just part of the plan,” he said. “It was obviously to run, and I feel like we did that pretty well there in some spurts. We’ve got to be able to sustain some drives, whether that’s me making a play or making a better decision or not shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Team performance
The loss marked the Ravens’ fourth straight defeat. The team’s offense struggled to generate momentum, while defensive lapses allowed Jacksonville to build a comfortable lead early. The Jaguars capitalized on the Ravens’ mistakes, extending their advantage with a balanced attack that combined passing efficiency and a solid running game.
With the season now entering its midpoint, Baltimore faces a critical period of evaluation at the quarterback position. The upcoming trade deadline and the potential addition of Brissett could reshape the depth chart, while Fagnano’s brief experience may serve as a learning opportunity for the young quarterback.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
