Ravens rookie Joe Fagnano completes 10 of 18 passes in 33-10 loss to Jaguars
The undrafted signal-caller managed a limited role as Baltimore dropped its fourth consecutive game.
By Paula Delgado ·
Joe Fagnano completed 10 of 18 passes for 60 yards and threw two interceptions in the Baltimore Ravens' 33-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night. The 25-year-old undrafted rookie entered the contest with only three days of preparation time. He stepped into the starting role after two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and backup Tyler Huntley both sustained injuries and moved to injured reserve.
The Jaguars capitalized on the Ravens' inexperience. Trevor Lawrence connected with Parker Washington for a 50-yard touchdown pass shortly before halftime. That score extended Jacksonville's lead to 17-3. Ravens head coach Jesse Minter noted that the explosive play broke the game open before the break.
Baltimore relied heavily on a Wildcat formation featuring running back Derrick Henry to shield Fagnano from pressure. The strategy limited the passing game but kept the offense moving in short bursts. Fagnano said the plan made sense given the short week and the absence of his two veteran predecessors.
The offense struggled to sustain drives after halftime. Fagnano threw interceptions to Montaric Brown and Jourdan Lewis on similar out routes toward tight end Zay Flowers. His teammates also committed errors, including four false-start penalties. Tight end Mark Andrews fumbled a snap on a fourth-down attempt during the third quarter.
The Ravens are expected to acquire Jacoby Brissett before Tuesday's trade deadline. Brissett started eight games for the Arizona Cardinals before losing his job to Gardner Minshew. Minter indicated that Fagnano will likely return to the bench for the Week 10 game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night.
Minter praised Fagnano's performance despite the result. He said the front office and ownership will do what is necessary to give the team a chance to win. Minter added that the coaching staff will evaluate how the roster performs when new personnel arrive.
Fagnano acknowledged the challenges of a quick turnaround but stated that he was not there to make excuses. He credited the Jaguars for playing well and noted that the Ravens simply did not execute the game plan effectively.
