Fagnano Starts as Emergency QB3 in Ravens Loss
Joe Fagnano entered Sunday's game against the Bills as Baltimore's third-string quarterback after two injuries sidelined the top options.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Football
Joe Fagnano began for the Baltimore Ravens against the Buffalo Bills after Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley were both ruled out with injuries. Fagnano was kept as the team's third quarterback over Diego Pavia, who was later cut and has not signed with another NFL team.
Why it matters
The game exposed how thin Baltimore's quarterback depth became in a single afternoon, with the emergency option coming from the lowest spot on the depth chart. For Baltimore readers, the outcome shows how quickly injuries can reshape the Ravens' season.
Fagnano moved from the third spot on Baltimore's depth chart to starting quarterback after Lamar Jackson left with a right thumb injury and Tyler Huntley left with a right foot injury. The injury timelines for both players have not been disclosed.
The players
Joe Fagnano
Fagnano is a quarterback who entered the Ravens' roster as a rookie and was kept as Baltimore's third quarterback over Diego Pavia.
Diego Pavia
Pavia is a quarterback who was cut by the Baltimore Ravens after rookie minicamp and has not yet signed with another NFL team.
The details
Lamar Jackson left the game with a right thumb injury and was ruled out, and Tyler Huntley followed with a right foot injury and was also ruled out. That left Joe Fagnano, who had been in rookie minicamp with the Ravens alongside Diego Pavia, as the emergency quarterback.
Timeline
Sunday: Ravens played the Bills, with Fagnano starting as emergency third quarterback
Season Trajectory
The Ravens' reliance on a third-string quarterback in a single game shows how injury depth at the position can alter a season's competitive balance in Baltimore's division. Fagnano's emergency start sits within a broader pattern where a team's backup options determine whether a bad day becomes a lost season.
With Jackson and Huntley both sidelined, the Ravens' quarterback rotation for upcoming games depends on injury updates that the team has not yet released. Fantasy managers tracking Baltimore's passing game should watch the Ravens' injury reports before setting lineups.
The takeaway
Depth at quarterback is often invisible until injuries force a third-string player onto the field. Following team injury reports closely helps readers anticipate how a single game can change a team's plans.
Further reading
Explore more Baltimore Ravens coverage on Wisevoter's football section.
