5 quarterback options for Ravens after Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley injuries originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
After a pair ofdevastating injuries, the Baltimore Ravens need a quarterback.
Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, coming off three missed games with an ankle injury, suffered a thumb injury that will require surgery on his first throw last Sunday. His backup, Tyler Huntley, returned to the field, but he went down with a turf toe injury that will require surgery in the second quarter.
With both players now likely out for the season , the next man up is undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano. The UConn product will start for Baltimore on short rest with the Jacksonville Jaguarsvisiting on Thursday. That will be the Ravens' only game before next Tuesday's trade deadline.
Is Fagnano the long-term starter with nine games remaining in the season? The 4-4 Ravens still have a chance to make the postseason, so they could look for a more established option to fill in for the rest of 2026. The only other quarterbacks on the roster currently are Austin Reed and Kedon Slovis, who have a combined two NFL pass attempts (both by Slovis).
With that in mind, here are five quarterbacks that the Ravens could target in trades or free agency:
After losing his starting job to Gardner Minshew last week, the Cardinals could look to trade Brissett before the deadline. He started Arizona's first eight games this season and went 3-5 with 1,719 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Brissett, 33, has several ties to this Ravens coaching staff — quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork held the same position for the Cardinals last season and passing game coordinator Marcus Brady was a Colts assistant when Brissett was there from 2018-20.
Another player with starting experience this season, Bagent filled in for the injured Caleb Williams twice last month. He struggled in limited action, completing 42 of 64 passes for 409 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions.
Bagent is an obvious fit, though, considering Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle was in the same role for Chicago last season. The Bears could look to move off Bagent's two-year contract after Case Keenum outperformed him in Williams' absence.
If the Ravens are looking for a dart throw option, Richardson could be their guy. The former first-round pick hasn't found his footing in four seasons with the Colts. Now backing up Daniel Jones for a team that's rebuilding, he could likely be available for a small price.
Richardson, unlike Brissett or Bagent, doesn't have the same ties to this Ravens coaching staff. He does represent the type of dual-threat prototype that they have with Jackson, though obviously at a significantly lower level. But that skillset could allow Baltimore to limit playbook changes if Richardson is playing.
Garoppolo won't cost any draft picks, and he should be healthier than anyone else considering he hasn't played this season. The former Los Angeles Rams backup isn't retired, but he has remained unsigned after spending the last two seasons with Sean McVay.
Garoppolo, 35, is far from the same player who led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl. What he should be able to do, however, is steady the ship and keep Baltimore in the wild card mix.
Dare to dream, right? Of course it's unlikely that the Bengals will send their veteran backup to a division rival. But a Flacco reunion with Baltimore, where he played 11 seasons and won Super Bowl XLVII MVP, would be the most exciting option.
Flacco has shined in these types of situations in recent years with the Bengals, Colts and Browns. He would have a realistic chance to do the same in Baltimore. Unless the Ravens overpay with a valuable draft pick, though, Flacco will be Joe Burrow's backup for the remainder of 2026.
