The Baltimore Ravens have little time to address their growing quarterback crisis after losing Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley during Sunday's 36-10 defeat against the Buffalo Bills.
Jackson suffered a right thumb injury on Baltimore's first offensive snap, while Huntley later exited with a toe injury.Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano made his NFL debut in relief but also required medical attention after taking several hits. The Ravens face Jacksonville on Thursday night, leaving general manager Eric DeCosta with an urgent decision about whether they need additional quarterback depth.
Baltimore needs to establish who's healthy
Jackson's injury remains the central concern because the Ravens have not announced its severity or provided a return timetable. Huntley's toe injury creates another question,
particularly after the backup appeared to have difficulty moving before leaving the game. Fagnano completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards and an interception against Buffalo, but the rookie also faced significant pressure behind an offensive line that allowed four sacks and 12 quarterback hits.
Baltimore cannot approach Thursday's game without knowing which quarterbacks are medically available.
A veteran signing may be more practical than a trade
With the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10, the Ravens still have a chance to pursue a quarterback acquisition.
However, a trade would likely require draft compensation and could create salary cap implications, especially if Baltimore pursues a veteran under contract beyond this season. Signing an available free agent could be a more practical short-term solution, depending on who is available and how quickly that player could learn the offense.
The challenge is that even an experienced quarterback would have only a few days to prepare for Jacksonville.
A simplified game plan and improved pass protection would be essential regardless of who starts.
Ravens must avoid another emergency quarterback situation
Justice Hill was identified as Baltimore's emergency fourth quarterback against Buffalo, illustrating how quickly the team's depth was depleted. That cannot be the preferred contingency plan entering another game.
DeCosta should evaluate available veterans immediately, with Jackson's and Huntley's medical results determining whether Baltimore needs a short-term backup, a potential starter, or simply additional emergency depth. The Ravens still have enough of the season left to recover from their 4-4 start, but Thursday's game arrives too quickly for the organization to ignore its quarterback uncertainty.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Should Ravens trade for or sign a quarterback before Thursday?
