Ravens Shock NFL: Emergency QB Trade Could Revive 2026 Playoff Run

Baltimore Ravens fans awoke to a repeat of their worst-case scenario: former MVP Lamar Jackson and backup Tyler Huntley have both been placed on injured reserve, leaving the club without its top two passers for at least four weeks. Rookie Joe Fagnano, who relieved Jackson late in Sunday’s loss to Buffalo, has been named the Week 9 starter for Thursday Night Football against the 5-2 Jacksonville Jaguars—marking his first NFL start on national television. Head coach Jesse Minter insists the locker room is “built for adversity,” but the Ravens (4-4) enter the prime-time clash riding a three-game skid and clinging to postseason hopes in a tightly-packed AFC North. To stabilize a battered roster, Baltimore elevated kicker Jake Moody and edge rusher Adisa Isaac from the practice squad, moves that also signal season-ending toe surgery for kicker Tyler Loop. Front-office activity suggests more help is coming. Multiple reports indicate the Ravens have agreed in principle to acquire veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals, pending a physical and final compensation details. Brissett’s arrival would give Baltimore an experienced insurance policy behind Fagnano and newly-signed practice-squad call-up Austin Reed. Offensively, Minter and coordinator Declan Doyle are expected to lean even more on Derrick Henry, whose 723 rushing yards rank fourth in the league, while scheming quick throws to chain-movers Mark Andrews and Zay Flowers. Defensively, Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton highlight a unit looking to rebound after surrendering 31 points to Buffalo. Key matchup to watch: Baltimore’s patchwork offensive line versus a Jaguars front led by Pro Bowler Travon Walker. If Fagnano can stay upright long enough to push the ball downfield, the Ravens could exploit Jacksonville’s 24th-ranked pass defense. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET at M&T Bank Stadium. A victory would nudge Baltimore back above .500 and keep them within striking distance of division-leading Pittsburgh, while a loss could accelerate trade-deadline urgency and complicate playoff math. Amid swirling injuries and transactions, Thursday night offers the battered Ravens a chance to flip the narrative—and their season—under the brightest lights of Week 9.