Baltimore's quarterback crisis deepened dramatically in a crucial Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Starter Lamar Jackson, returning from an ankle injury, hurt his thumb on the Ravens' first offensive play when he hit it against Bills defensive end Gregory Rousseau. Backup Tyler Huntley, who had started the previous three games, then suffered a right toe injury in the second quarter after his foot was rolled up by Ed Oliver. With both quarterbacks sidelined, the Ravens turned to emergency third-stringer Joe Fagnano, a 25-year-old rookie undrafted free agent out of UConn.
Fagnano's NFL Debut
Fagnano played roughly two and a half quarters, completing 10 of 12 passes for 91 yards with one interception. According to the CBS broadcast, running back Justice Hill would serve as the emergency quarterback should Fagnano also go down.
Who Is Joe Fagnano?
Fagnano's path to the NFL is unconventional. He began his collegiate career as a walk-on at FCS program Maine in 2019, quickly earning a scholarship and the backup role. His college debut also came after the starter was injured, and in his first start he threw five touchdown passes in an upset win over FBS program Liberty. The 2020 season was limited to four games due to COVID-19, and a 2021 injury restricted him to four more games. After a solid 2022 season, he transferred to UConn. A season-ending shoulder injury cut short his 2023 debut after two games, but he played most of 2024 and broke out in 2025 with 28 passing touchdowns, one interception, and 3,448 passing yards.
The Ravens invited Fagnano to a rookie tryout where he beat out Diego Pavia for a summer roster spot. He impressed in the preseason, posting a nearly 75% completion percentage with three touchdowns and one interception. Now, suddenly, he finds himself trying to halt Baltimore's two-game losing streak.
