By: Maylee Salgado
Baltimore Ravens fans were stoked after star quarterback Lamar Jackson made his return in Week 8 against the Buffalo Bills after missing three games. The excitement was short-lived, as Jackson suffered a thumb injury on the first snap of the game. Now placed on injured reserve, Ravens fans are left wondering what lies ahead for their quarterback as the season continues.
Backup quarterback, Tyler Huntley, stepped in to start for the Ravens after Jackson was taken to the medical tent for evaluation. To the Ravens’ dismay, Huntley also suffered a season-ending injury shortly before halftime. With both of their top quarterbacks out, the Ravens had no choice but to bring out third-string quarterback, Joseph Fagnano. The Bills ultimately dominated the Ravens, handing them a 36-10 loss. Fagnano then made his first career NFL start the following week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Playing Thursday night at their home field, M&T Bank Stadium, the Ravens fell to a 4-5 record after another disappointing loss, this time 33-10 against the Jaguars. Baltimore struggled offensively throughout the entire game. The Ravens only managed to score a field goal during the first half of the game, trailing 17-3 at half time. No additional points were scored during the third quarter. Running back Justice Hill finally scored the first rushing touchdown during the fourth quarter, but it was too late. The rookie quarterback, Fagnano, was seemingly under pressure throughout the entire game. He ended with a total of 60 passing yards, 0 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 1 sack and 1 fumble. This devastating performance only left one question: Will Fagnano continue as starting QB?
The Ravens quickly responded by trading for veteran quarterback, Jacoby Brissett. The former Arizona Cardinals quarterback will make his debut for the Ravens on Monday, November 16th (Week 10). Brissett’s arrival to Baltimore offers a potential turning point for their offense, considering his years of experience. After consecutively succumbing to the Bengals, Bills, and Jaguars, Ravens fans may be able to regain hope going into Week 10 against the 0-7 Los Angeles Chargers.
With the NFL regular season approaching its halfway point, the Ravens are ranked 10th in the AFC Conference. The team’s playoff hopes are far from secure, and the pressure is mounting. Now, it is all up to Jacoby Brissett to put the Ravens back on track and pave the way to a chance at seeing a postseason.
