The Baltimore Ravens‘ quarterback situation took another significant turn Sunday afternoon when Tyler Huntley suffered a toe injury against the Buffalo Bills, forcing undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano into action after Lamar Jackson had already been ruled out.
Baltimore said Huntley was questionable to return, leaving the Ravens without their top two quarterbacks in a critical AFC matchup. Jackson injured his right thumb on Baltimore’s first offensive play after his throwing hand made contact with Bills defender Greg Rousseau. The two-time NFL MVP immediately headed to the locker room and was subsequently ruled out, ending his anticipated return from a three-game absence.
Huntley replaced Jackson and attempted to keep Baltimore competitive against a Buffalo team that entered Week 8 with a 5-1 record. The veteran quarterback had already started three consecutive games while Jackson recovered from an ankle injury, but his latest setback forced Baltimore to turn to another option after the offense had spent much of October adjusting to changes at quarterback.
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Fagnano entered the game as Baltimore’s emergency third quarterback and made his NFL regular-season debut after Huntley exited. The undrafted rookie out of Connecticut had not previously appeared in a regular-season game, although he earned a spot on Baltimore’s initial 53-man roster following an impressive preseason.
The rookie’s unexpected appearance created another challenge for offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, who was already working with an offense dealing with injuries along the offensive line. Baltimore entered Sunday’s matchup without first-round guard Vega Ioane, and several other offensive linemen have missed time this season.
Fagnano’s arrival changes Baltimore’s immediate responsibilities, with Derrick Henry and the running game potentially becoming more important as the coaching staff adjusts to an inexperienced quarterback. The Ravens must also maintain adequate pass protection and avoid negative plays against a Buffalo defense that has already forced adjustments.
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Jackson’s injury was particularly frustrating because Sunday marked his first appearance since suffering an ankle injury against Tennessee in Week 4. Baltimore went 1-2 during his absence, with Huntley helping the Ravens defeat New Orleans before consecutive losses to Cleveland and Cincinnati.
The Ravens entered the game at 4-3 and looking to regain ground in the AFC playoff race, but injuries to both quarterbacks have created another obstacle for head coach Jesse Minter. Huntley had provided Baltimore with an experienced replacement during Jackson’s absence, making his availability especially important after the starter was ruled out against Buffalo.
The severity of Huntley’s toe injury was not immediately known, and the Ravens had not announced whether he could return. With Jackson already unavailable, Baltimore will rely on Fagnano while continuing to evaluate Huntley’s condition and determine how to manage its quarterback situation for the remainder of Sunday’s game.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Tyler Huntley injury forces Ravens to third-string quarterback
