The Baltimore Ravens need a quarterback, and they need one fast. Lamar Jackson will have thumb surgery and go on injured reserve, and backup Tyler Huntley hurt his toe in the same game. Baltimore plays the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night.
Important: As of Monday, no signing or trade had been reported. The names below are options, not done deals.
Where things stand
| Quarterback | Status |
|---|---|
| Lamar Jackson | Thumb surgery, injured reserve; "potentially" out for the season |
| Tyler Huntley | Toe injury; could miss multiple games |
| Joe Fagnano | Undrafted rookie; went 10 of 21 for 91 yards in his debut |
According to Yahoo Sports, Baltimore has no other quarterback on its 53-man roster or practice squad.
Option 1: Sign a familiar face
These players could be signed quickly and play on Thursday:
- Austin Reed: Was in Ravens training camp this year and worked with offensive coordinator Declan Doyle in Chicago. He has never played in a regular-season game.
- Josh Johnson: The 40-year-old has had two stints in Baltimore. He is on the Bengals’ practice squad, so the Ravens could sign him to their active roster.
- Cooper Rush: Was Jackson’s backup in 2025. He is now with the Falcons.
Option 2: A practice-squad player from another team
- Will Levis (Jets): The former Titans starter has a big arm, but also a history of turnovers.
- Hendon Hooker (Titans): Has thrown only five regular-season passes, all in 2024.
Option 3: A trade before the Nov. 10 deadline
These are ideas from writers, not reported talks:
| Player | Team | Why it could make sense |
|---|---|---|
| Tyson Bagent | Bears | Worked with Doyle in Chicago |
| Sam Ehlinger | Broncos | Worked with Doyle in Denver |
| Spencer Rattler | Saints | Has 14 NFL starts (1-13 record) |
| Anthony Richardson | Colts | Big talent; Indianapolis is selling |
| Joe Flacco | Bengals | Ravens legend, but a trade to a division rival is unlikely |
A trade is not likely to help on Thursday. A new quarterback would have only a couple of practices to learn the offense.
Option 4: Bring someone back from retirement
- Jimmy Garoppolo has not thrown a regular-season pass since 2024, but has reportedly stayed interested in playing.
- Russell Wilson announced his retirement this offseason.
Our take
The most likely plan for Thursday is to start Fagnano or a quick signing like Reed or Johnson, then look for a longer-term answer before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. At 4-4 and on a three-game losing streak, Baltimore can’t afford a long slump.
Follow every move in our NFL trade tracker.
Ravens’ next game
| Game | Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens |
| When | Thursday, Nov. 5, 8:15 pm ET |
| Sri Lanka / India | 6:45 am Friday |
Sources: Yahoo Sports – Ravens’ immediate QB options, Last Word on NFL – Rattler trade idea, Baltimore Ravens – Jackson injury.
