The Baltimore Ravens' 2026 season is spiraling out of control. After losing Lamar Jackson to a thumb injury that required surgery and landed him on injured reserve, the team has now confirmed that backup quarterback Tyler "Snoop" Huntley will miss the rest of the year with a turf toe injury.
The news comes from ESPN's Adam Schefter, who reported the diagnosis on Tuesday. Huntley went down during Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills, and tests revealed the severity of the injury. With both quarterbacks sidelined, the Ravens are turning to undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano, who will make his first career start Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It's a stunning turn of events for a team that entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations. Jackson, a two-time MVP, was placed on injured reserve after suffering the thumb injury in the same game. Coach Jesse Minter described the moment it happened: "It's tough," he said. "When it happened, I think at the time, you're just hoping that maybe it's something small, and then I think pretty quickly kind of realized what had happened."
Now, the Ravens must rely on Fagnano, who has thrown just 21 passes in his NFL career. The undrafted free agent out of UConn completed 10 of those attempts for 91 yards with an interception in relief duty in Week 8. He's only the second undrafted rookie quarterback to ever start for Baltimore, a testament to the dire situation.
Fagnano's journey to this moment has been anything but conventional. He began his college career as a walk-on at Maine before transferring to UConn in 2023. In his final collegiate season, he threw for 5,252 yards, 48 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, showing the kind of efficiency that could give Ravens fans a glimmer of hope.
"It's special," Fagnano said of the opportunity. "It's really the only way I can think about it."
With the season on the line, the Ravens are hoping for a spark from their new starter. The Jaguars defense has struggled at times, and Fagnano's mobility and arm strength could cause problems. But the odds are stacked against him, and the team's playoff hopes are hanging by a thread.
This quarterback crisis has also reignited speculation about Jackson's future in Baltimore. Some analysts have already questioned whether the team will move on from him, especially given his injury history. But for now, the focus is on Thursday night, where Fagnano will try to keep the Ravens' season alive.
As the Ravens navigate this unprecedented situation, they'll need all hands on deck. The defense, led by Minter, will have to step up, and the running game will need to carry the load. But with a rookie under center, anything can happen.
The team's resilience will be tested, but if there's one thing the Ravens have shown over the years, it's that they never back down from a challenge. Thursday night against the Jaguars will be a true test of that mettle.
