Joe Fagnano starts for Ravens vs. Jaguars Thursday

Tuesday started with Baltimore down 2 quarterbacks and shopping. Lamar Jackson (thumb) and Tyler Huntley (toe) are both out, and the morning was all about who'd fill in.

Tom Pelissero

@TomPelissero

A new QB in Baltimore: The Ravens are signing Kedon Slovis to their 53-man roster off the Packers’ practice squad, sources tell @ringer @netflixsports. The options for Thursday night against Jacksonville now include Joe Fagnano, Austin Reed and Slovis, who played in two games last season with Arizona.

Kedon Slovis is the new face. He's 25, went undrafted in 2024 and played in 2 games for Arizona last year, where his whole stat line was 1 completion for minus-2 yards. He's here because of who he knows. Ravens QB coach Israel Woolfork coached him with the Cardinals, and WR coach Keary Colbert had him at USC. The Ravens also worked out former UFL MVP Adrian Martinez that morning, and Jeff Zrebiec said he didn't think Baltimore was done adding at the position.

Slovis only got to the building 2 days before kickoff, though, and the guy everybody really needed to see was the rookie. Fagnano was already on the schedule to talk to the media, which is what teams do with their likely starter. Then he walked out to practice looking like this.

Jeff Zrebiec

@jeffzrebiec

Joe Fagnano is practicing with a significant guard/brace on right ankle.

That's a big brace on the right ankle of a kid about to make his first NFL start. Fagnano got thrown into Sunday's 36-10 loss to the Bills when Jackson and Huntley both went down, and he went 10-of-21 for 91 yards and an interception. Not great, but that's what happens when you go in cold behind a beat-up offense against Buffalo.

Jackson and Huntley weren't spotted at practice, and neither were Calais Campbell, Jaylinn Hawkins or kicker Tyler Loop. So whoever plays QB Thursday has more than his own ankle to worry about. Early in the afternoon Minter made it official.

Mike Garafolo

@MikeGarafolo

Joe Fagnano officially the starter for the #Ravens on Thursday.

Some history here: Fagnano will be just the 2nd undrafted rookie QB to start a game for the Ravens, after Anthony Brown in 2022. He also doesn't sound worried about the ankle.

Jeff Zrebiec

@jeffzrebiec

Fagnano said his ankle feels fine. “Bumps and bruises happen during the game. Nothing crazy.”

The injury report backed him up. Fagnano and right guard Vega Ioane (knee) were both listed as full participants, and the final report comes out Wednesday. Baltimore is 4-4 and hosts a 5-2 Jacksonville team, so this isn't a game they can just write off. Fagnano starts, Austin Reed or Slovis backs him up depending on how fast Slovis learns the playbook, and Martinez's workout tells you the front office is still worried. If the rookie keeps it close Thursday night, he'll be the story of the week.