Atrás
The Baltimore Ravens have turned to young NFL journeyman Kedon Slovis amid their quarterback nightmare.
On Sunday, Lamar Jackson returned from a three-game absence with an ankle injury in Week 8 against the Buffalo Bills but lasted just one snap before suffering another setback. The 29-year-old appeared to injure his throwing hand after making contact with an oncoming Bills pass rusher and was quickly ruled out with a thumb injury.
He later returned to the sideline wearing a cast on his right hand - but the Ravens' problems worsened when backup quarterback Tyler Huntley also exited with a toe injury, leaving undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano to step in. With Jackson on IR and Huntley out for the season with turf toe, Fagnano suddenly became their only option.
Ahead of the Ravens’ Thursday Night Football clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Fagnano is now dealing with an ankle injury. Fagnano was listed as a limited participant in walk-through practice on Monday.
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter told reporters: “To Joe's credit, he's kind of fighting through a couple things he's dealing with, but expect him to have a chance to play on Thursday.”
Fagnano would become just the second undrafted rookie quarterback to start in the Ravens' 32-year history. The first undrafted rookie quarterback to start for Baltimore was Anthony Brown in the Ravens' 27-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the final game of the 2022 season.
In order to bolster the decimated quarterback room, the Ravens decided to sign Slovis to their 53-man roster off the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad. Ravens quarterback coach Israel Woolfork worked with Slovis in Arizona.
The third-year signal-caller is now onto his fifth franchise. The Cardinals and Ravens are the sole active squads, with Slovis playing two games for Arizona in 2025.
As a result, Minter and the Ravens can turn to Fagnano, Slovis, or Austin Reed to lead the team versus the Jaguars. Reed was signed to the practice squad on Monday, and the 26-year-old is somewhat familiar with the offensive system because he took part in the Ravens’ training camp.
Reed also played under offensive coordinator Declan Doyle when they were both members of the Chicago Bears last year. When asked if the Ravens' quarterback situation is up in the air, Minter replied: “I think we'll figure that out over the next day or two.”
With Huntley done for the year, Minter admitted Jackson could follow the backup and miss the rest of the season. The two-time MVP has not yet had surgery on his right thumb, and will miss at least the next four games.
“I think when you lose a guy like Lamar, it's a little bit of every phase doing a little bit more,” Minter said. “So, it's being able to play really good defense, being able to maybe make a play or steal a play on special teams, maybe a different style of offense of how we need to play.”
The 4-4 Ravens take on the 5-2 Jaguars at M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday Night Football on Nov. 5.