Baltimore Ravens to Rely on Third-String Quarterback Against Jacksonville Jaguars
The Ravens lost three straight games while their quarterbacks dealt with injuries, leaving Joe Fagnano to start against a Jaguars team that has won five of its last six.
By Takeshi Faure ·
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh will call the starting lineup with a new face at the helm. Joe Fagnano, the team's third-string quarterback, is expected to start Thursday Night Football at M&T Bank Stadium. He will lead the offense against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a matchup decided by injury reports as much as strategy. The game is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
The Ravens lost three consecutive games before this contest. Their start to the season was 4-1, but the team has slipped since that mark. Starting quarterback Lamar Jackson is sidelined with a thumb injury. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley is also out, dealing with a toe issue. Fagnano made his NFL debut in the previous week's loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Jacksonville enters the game as a 10-point road favorite. The Jaguars are 5-2 and hold the only three-game lead in their division. They defeated the Indianapolis Colts 42-7 in their most recent outing. Bhayshul Tuten had a standout performance in that game. He became the first Jaguars player since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2007 to rush for over 100 yards, catch for over 50 yards, and score two touchdowns in a single contest.
Trevor Lawrence leads the NFL in passer rating this season. He also holds the team record for the most touchdown passes through seven games of a season. However, his performance varies by location. His rating on the road is 89.9, while his home rating is 120.6. This is Jacksonville's first road game in a month.
SportsLine expert Jeff Hochman favors the Ravens on the bet. He noted that Jacksonville's run defense ranks last in Run-Stop-Win Rate. Nose tackle Davon Hamilton is out, and edge rusher Travon Walker is playing through an injury. Hochman expects Baltimore to use a simplified game plan focused on Derrick Henry and Mark Andrews. He believes the short week and the Ravens' recent losses will sharpen their focus.
R.J. White, another SportsLine expert, pointed to Justice Hill as a key player in the passing attack. Hill had eight targets last week when Fagnano threw 21 of the team's 25 passes. He gained 20 yards in a game where the Ravens had only 91 passing yards. He also recorded 26 yards on three catches against the Cincinnati Bengals the week before. White expects Hill to see checkdowns and reach 20 yards for a third straight game.
The over/under for the game is set at 40 points. The Jaguars have won consecutive Thursday Night Football games, with their last such victory coming against the New Orleans Saints in 2023. The Ravens will attempt to stop a Jaguars offense that has been effective on short fields and defensive takeaways.
