The Baltimore Ravenshad already identified Jacoby Brissett as a potential solution to their quarterback problems before Thursday Night Football. After watching Joe Fagnano struggle in his first NFL start, the decision about who should lead the offense moving forward seems much easier.
Fagnano completed 10 of 18 passes for just 60 yards and two interceptions in Baltimore's 33-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, a performance that highlighted the difficulty of asking an undrafted rookie to run an NFL offense under such challenging circumstances.
The Ravens dropped their fourth consecutive game and fell to 4-5, leaving them in a difficult position as they prepare for Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Brissett, whom Baltimore
is reportedly acquiring from the Arizona Cardinals, offers the experience and familiarity that the Ravens desperately need while Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley remain on injured reserve.
Joe Fagnano's debut exposes Ravens' offensive limitations
Baltimore's game plan made it clear that the coaching staff wanted to avoid putting too much pressure on Fagnano.
The Ravens opened their first offensive possession with Derrick Henry taking a direct snap and repeatedly returned to the wildcat formation throughout the night. Henry became central to an offense that tried to generate production without consistently asking its rookie quarterback to throw downfield.
The approach produced some rushing success, but the Ravens couldn't sustain enough drives to challenge Jacksonville. Fagnano averaged just 3.3 yards per pass attempt, and his two interceptions gave the Jaguars additional opportunities to extend their lead.
Baltimore finished with only 55 net passing yards and 10 first downs. Its longest completion gained just 14 yards, while leading receiver Zay Flowers finished with three catches for six yards.
Those numbers show how little the Ravens accomplished through the air.
Jacoby Brissett brings experience Ravens desperately need
Brissett has 73 career NFL starts and spent the beginning of this season as Arizona's starting quarterback.
In eight starts with the Cardinals, he threw for 1,719 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Although Arizona eventually replaced him with Gardner Minshew, Brissett's experience represents a significant upgrade over Baltimore's inexperienced options.
The veteran also has an existing relationship with Ravens quarterback coach Israel Woolfork, which could help accelerate his transition into offensive coordinator Declan Doyle's system.
Brissett is not Lamar Jackson, and his arrival will not automatically solve Baltimore's problems on the offensive line or defense. He should, however, give the Ravens a quarterback who can run a more conventional passing attack and get the ball to their receivers.
Ravens cannot afford another offensive collapse
Fagnano deserves credit for accepting a difficult assignment while dealing with a heavily supported right ankle and limited preparation time. His performance does not eliminate his developmental value, but it reinforces why Baltimore moved quickly to acquire a veteran. The Ravens have scored just 20 points over their past two games, both lopsided defeats, and their passing game has become increasingly ineffective.
Assuming the trade is finalized and Brissett is ready to play, Baltimore has a compelling reason to start him against the Chargers.
The Ravens need stability, and Thursday's performance demonstrated how difficult winning will be without it.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Did Joe Fagnano's performance clear the way for Jacoby Brissett?
