NEED TO KNOW

• Joe Fagnano credited his new wife Lydia for helping him learn the Ravens playbook

• The rookie became Baltimore’s starting quarterback after Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley suffered injuries

• The high school sweethearts wed in September

Joe Fagnano has his head in the game — even on his honeymoon.

The Baltimore Ravens rookie, 25, made his starting quarterback debut in the team’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, Nov. 5, but his wife, Lydia Fagnano, is being praised for her assist in his preparation behind the scenes.

Joe took over as QB1 after Ravens star Lamar Jackson and backup Tyler Huntley went down with injuries in Baltimore’s 36-10 loss against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Nov. 1. Jackson hurt his right thumb on the first offensive play and needs surgery, while Huntley suffered a season-ending turf toe injury before halftime.

Joe, who went undrafted this year after finishing his college career at the University of Connecticut, wed his high school sweetheart Lydia in September. The two then went on their honeymoon, where Lydia helped him learn the Ravens’ playbook, Thursday Night Football reporter Kaylee Hartung said.

The rookie gave a shoutout to Lydia before the game.

“We go through walkthroughs in the living room,” Joe told reporters during a press conference. “She probably knows the playbook just as well as us at this point.”

It was a tough first outing for Joe, though, who threw for 60 yards and two interceptions in the 33-10 loss, completing just 10 of 18 passes.

“I’m not here to make excuses. We just didn’t execute. I have to play better,” the first-year player said after the game.

Fagnano made his NFL debut a week earlier, coming into the game after the injuries to Jackson and Huntley. The Ravens happened to be playing the Buffalo Bills, his wife’s favorite team, but she explained her feelings towards the team have since changed.

“I was born third-generation Bills fan,” Lydia told Matt King in an interview on Nov. 3. “Now, absolutely cut off. Full time Ravens fan... As soon as Joe went in that game, all the Bills gear came off, all the Ravens gear went on,” she continued, adding, “It was super cool to see, but we had some pretty conflicted Bills fans for sure.”

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Lydia understands the commitment and dedication it takes to be an athlete at a high level as a former NCAA triathlete who also competed in cross country and track. However, she said that being a spectator is much harder.

“I’m the worst version of myself when he’s on that field to be completely honest,” she said of watching her husband. “I get a little shaky. I can’t breathe well.”

Despite the nerves, Lydia is confident in Joe’s ability.

“I have full faith in him,” she made clear, adding, “I’m just so proud of him because I know what it’s taken to get to be on that field and have gone through all this with him, it was so special. I teared up a little bit just because I couldn’t believe it was real.”

Lydia and Joe’s romance began in high school, in Williamsport, Pa., before they spent years in a long-distance relationship as Joe played in Maine for four years before transferring to the UConn Huskies for his final two years of eligibility.

“To be completely honest, I just don’t like anybody else,” said Lydia. “He’s just so cool. It made it kinda easy.”

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