Baltimore Ravens Injury Report: Fagnano Starts Thursday as Offensive Line Questions Grow
The latest Baltimore Ravens injury report comes with a big decision attached: rookie Joe Fagnano will start Thursday night against Jacksonville. Lamar Jackson is on injured reserve with a thumb injury that needs surgery, Tyler Huntley is out with turf toe, and kicker Tyler Loop (groin) is out, too. Fagnano is playing through an ankle injury of his own.
The bigger question is whether the offensive line can protect him.
Baltimore Ravens injury report: who’s in and who’s out for Thursday
Statuses below come from Minter’s comments and Monday’s estimated practice report. The Ravens held their only full practice Tuesday and have a walkthrough Wednesday, per WMAR.
| Player | Injury | Status | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB Joe Fagnano | Ankle | Starting; limited Monday, wore a brace Tuesday | Confirmed (start); Reported (brace) |
| QB Lamar Jackson | Right thumb | Injured reserve, surgery, at least four games | Confirmed |
| QB Tyler Huntley | Toe | Out Thursday; could go on IR | Confirmed |
| K Tyler Loop | Right groin | Out; Jake Moody kicks; could go on IR | Confirmed |
| G Vega Ioane | Knee | Limited Monday; hopes to play | Reported |
| S Jaylinn Hawkins | Knee | Did not participate Monday | Reported |
| DT Calais Campbell | Rest | Did not participate Monday | Reported |
Several others were limited Monday, including pass rusher Trey Hendrickson (finger/ribs), running back Justice Hill (groin), nose tackle John Jenkins (knee), tackle Roger Rosengarten (ankle) and guard John Simpson (back).
Quarterback depth
Backup Tyler Huntley (turf toe) won’t play Thursday, Minter said. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported he’ll miss extended time (Reported). Baltimore signed Kedon Slovis off Green Bay’s practice squad and added Austin Reed to its own practice squad, per ESPN and Ravens.com.
CBS Sports researcher Doug Clawson noted that the backup group of Fagnano, Reed and Slovis has fewer career passing touchdowns (zero) than running back Derrick Henry (four), per Yahoo Sports.
Kicker change
Minter said Jake Moody will kick Thursday, and Loop could go on injured reserve (Confirmed). Loop is 13-of-17 on field goals this season, missed a 34-yarder at Buffalo, and sent his opening kickoff out of bounds, per Ravens.com.
Moody joined the practice squad on Oct. 20. He has made 64 of 82 field goals and 107 of 110 extra points in his career.
Fagnano’s first NFL start
Status: Confirmed
Minter named Fagnano the starter Tuesday. ESPN’s Jamison Hensley reported that he’ll be only the second undrafted rookie quarterback to start for the Ravens in their 32-year history.
In his debut at Buffalo, Fagnano went 10-of-21 for 91 yards with an interception and a lost fumble, and he was sacked three times. He played 40 snaps after Jackson and Huntley were hurt.
He led all NFL quarterbacks with 509 passing yards in the preseason, per Ravens.com.
The offensive line controversy: who’s to blame?
What the numbers show
Status: Reported
The Bills hit Ravens quarterbacks 12 times and sacked them four times, per Yahoo Sports’ report card. Ebony Bird counted 28 pressures.
Buffalo’s Greg Rousseau beat right tackle Roger Rosengarten on Baltimore’s first play, and Jackson’s throwing hand hit Rousseau’s arm, per Ravens.com. Center Cam Jurgens had communication problems on blitz pickups, according to Ebony Bird and Yahoo Sports. Sumer Sports credited him with five pressures and a sack.
The counterargument
Status: Confirmed and Reported
Rosengarten said he felt responsible for Jackson’s injury. Minter disagreed and said the team has his back. Minter also said injuries aren’t an excuse, but they’re real: The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reported the Ravens had used 16 different line combinations this season and graded the group C- as of late October.
Jurgens is also new. The Ravens acquired him on Oct. 7, and Ebony Bird tracked one pressure on about 40 pass-block snaps in his debut against Cincinnati. Ioane missed the Buffalo game with a knee injury.
The criticism
Status: Opinion
The Daily Flock, an SI fan site, argued that GM Eric DeCosta should be fired over the line. That’s one outlet’s view.
Our take: the line is part of a roster-building question and a coaching question, and injuries have made continuity impossible. But the most useful fix this week is scheme. The Ravens haven’t scored a second-half touchdown since beating Atlanta in overtime, per Ravens.com, and they gained 144 yards at Buffalo while converting 3-of-13 third downs, per Yahoo Sports.
Minter said the team may need a different style of offense without Jackson. A quicker passing game and a steady dose of Derrick Henry would give a rookie fewer long drop-backs to survive.
What Baltimore faces: the Jaguars
Jacksonville is 5-2 and leads the AFC South by three games after a 42-7 win over Indianapolis, per TSN. Trevor Lawrence has 17 touchdown passes and four interceptions this season, per CBS Sports. The Jaguars had four sacks and three turnovers in that Colts win, per Football Nation.
Running back Bhayshul Tuten (ankle/foot) didn’t practice Monday or Tuesday, so his status is in doubt, per Yahoo Sports. The game airs on Prime Video.
Ravens schedule: what’s next
- Thursday, Nov. 5: vs. Jacksonville, 8:15 p.m. ET, M&T Bank Stadium, Prime Video.
- Tuesday, Nov. 10: NFL trade deadline.
- Monday, Nov. 16: vs. the Chargers, 8:15 p.m. ET.
- Sunday, Nov. 22: at Carolina.
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ playoffs outlook
The Ravens are 4-4, have lost three straight, and sit last in the AFC North. Jackson will miss at least four games on injured reserve. Minter said the injury could “potentially” end his season (Confirmed).
ESPN’s FPI gave Baltimore about a 50% playoff chance as of Oct. 28, per Ravens.com. That number came before the Buffalo loss.
SI’s Jason La Canfora reported that the Ravens’ top pursuit is Bears backup Tyson Bagent, and that an unnamed high-ranking official said they’re also interested in Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (Reported). Neither team has confirmed a deal.
Our take: if Baltimore adds a quarterback, the new player still needs a line that can protect him.
Baltimore Ravens injury report FAQ
What is the latest Baltimore Ravens injury report? Jackson (right thumb) is on injured reserve, Huntley (toe) and Loop (groin) are out Thursday, and Fagnano (ankle) is starting. Ioane (knee) was limited Monday and hopes to play.
Who is starting at quarterback for the Ravens on Thursday? Joe Fagnano, the undrafted rookie from UConn, Minter announced Tuesday.
Is Lamar Jackson out for the season? The Ravens haven’t said. He’ll miss at least four games on injured reserve, and Minter said the injury could “potentially” end his season.
Who is kicking for the Ravens on Thursday? Jake Moody, after Loop was ruled out with a right groin injury.
When does the Ravens injury report come out? Teams release a report for each practice day. This week the Ravens held their only full practice Tuesday and have a walkthrough Wednesday, per WMAR.
Who do the Ravens play next? They host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
Bottom line
This Baltimore Ravens injury report is mostly bad news, but there’s one open question you can answer: protection. With a rookie starting on a short week, should Baltimore build Thursday’s plan around quick throws or around Derrick Henry? Tell us in the comments.
