Ravens rookie Joe Fagnano starts after Jackson and Huntley both leave game
Ravens rookie Joe Fagnano enters his first NFL game after backup Tyler Huntley suffers a toe injury.
By Marco Kapoor ·
Lamar Jackson suffered an injury during his first offensive play of the season against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The Baltimore Ravens quarterback exited the field at Orchard Park with a towel wrapped around his right hand after his thumb was injured. He was ruled out of the game before the end of the first quarter.
Jackson’s return to the field ended the recovery period following a high ankle sprain sustained in Week 4. The injury forced him to miss three games against the Tennessee Titans and others. He described the ankle issue as very painful during press conferences. The team managed his return by keeping him out of the Week 7 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He participated fully in practices leading up to the Week 8 matchup.
The Ravens entered the game ranked last in the AFC North after their loss to Cincinnati. The team had lost to Josh Allen and the Bills in major games during the previous two seasons. Jackson attempted a pass on his first snap, and his right hand collided with the arm of Buffalo linebacker Greg Rousseau. He signaled his thumb to trainers on the sideline before leaving the field.
Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley took over after Jackson was ruled out. Huntley had started one game and lost two others this season. He completed 15 snaps before suffering a toe injury. He was ruled out after the first half. Joe Fagnano, an undrafted rookie, entered the game in the second quarter.
Fagnano is designated as the emergency quarterback for the Ravens. NFL rules allow him to remain in the game only while Huntley is injured. The team officially ruled Huntley out after halftime. Josh Allen led the Bills on an opening drive that ended with a one-yard rushing touchdown.
The game features two MVP quarterbacks who are frequently compared. Jackson is a two-time MVP, while Allen is the current MVP. The Ravens will now rely on Fagnano for the remainder of the contest. He has played his first regular season snaps in this game.
