Joe Fagnano's first NFL start has been every bit as difficult as the circumstances surrounding his sudden promotion, with the Baltimore Ravens rookie quarterback managing just 30 passing yards in the first half of Thursday night's matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fagnano completed 7 of 11 passes without a touchdown or interception as Baltimore entered halftime trailing 17-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. The undrafted rookie also rushed for four yards, but the Ravens relied heavily on Derrick Henry and a series of direct snaps designed to limit the pressure on their inexperienced quarterback.
The former UConn standout was pressed into the starting lineup after injuries to Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley, both of whom were officially placed on injured
reserve Thursday.
Baltimore's offensive approach made it clear that the coaching staff was determined to protect Fagnano against Jacksonville's aggressive defense.
JOE FAGNANO | FIRST-HALF STATS
7/11
Passing
30
Pass yards
67.6
Passer rating
0
Touchdowns
0
Interceptions
4
Rushing yards
Ravens turn Derrick Henry into wildcat quarterback
The Ravens opened their first offensive possession with Henry lined up in the wildcat formation, taking a direct snap for a six-yard gain.
It became a recurring feature of Baltimore's offense.
Henry handled seven direct snaps in the first half, and the Ravens also used quarterback-style runs and misdirection to keep Jacksonville's defense from attacking Fagnano on every passing down.
The strategy helped Baltimore move the ball on the ground, but it also showed the limited confidence the coaching staff had in asking Fagnano to run a conventional passing attack for extended stretches.
Fagnano's first completion came on a short screen, and he struggled to generate meaningful yardage through the air.
Baltimore finished the half with 76 rushing yards and only 25 net passing yards after accounting for a sack.
Joe Fagnano's ankle remains a factor
Fagnano entered Thursday's game with his right ankle heavily wrapped after suffering an injury during Sunday's loss to Buffalo. The unusual amount of support attracted attention before kickoff, with social media users comparing the appearance to a moon boot. Despite the wrapping, Fagnano demonstrated enough mobility to keep the football on a designed run and pick up a first down.
The Ravens removed him from their final injury report after he participated fully in practice, although the coaching staff continued using an offense designed to minimize conventional passing situations.
His ankle injury followed an already difficult debut against Buffalo, when he completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards and an interception after replacing the injured Huntley.
Ravens need more from passing game after halftime
Baltimore possessed the football for 17:31 during the first half, compared with 12:29 for Jacksonville, but generated only three points.
The Ravens' inability to create explosive passing plays let the Jaguars focus on defending Henry and limiting yards after the catch.
Fagnano was sacked once, and Baltimore's longest completed pass gained just seven yards. With Jacksonville leading by 14 points, the Ravens face a difficult decision about how aggressively to expand their passing attack in the second half.
Henry remains the team's most reliable offensive option, but Baltimore cannot expect to overcome a two-touchdown deficit without getting more production from its rookie quarterback.
For Fagnano, the second half will offer another chance to show he can lead the offense under difficult circumstances as Baltimore navigates the absence of its top two quarterbacks.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens QB Joe Fagnano struggles in first NFL start vs. Jaguars
