Ravens look to stabilize crumbling season with QB Jacoby Brissett

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  Jamison HensleyNov 4, 2026, 07:11 PM ET

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  Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens have dropped three straight games, lost star quarterback Lamar Jackson indefinitely and watched their playoff hopes quickly crumble.

Still, Baltimore is not throwing in the towel at the midway point of a 2026 NFL season that's spiraling downward.

The Ravens are finalizing a trade for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, which shows they're not giving up on the season. But, given Brissett's track record, the Ravens have a better chance of stabilizing the season than saving it.

Baltimore (4-4), which is in last place in the AFC North, has a 6.4% chance of making the playoffs and a 0.5% chance of winning the division, according to ESPN Analytics. With such dismal odds and the uncertainty surrounding Jackson, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta could have considered punting on the final nine games of the season by trading some starters and acquiring more draft capital for what is supposed to be a loaded 2027 draft.

Instead, the Ravens are making an attempt to salvage a season that's been devastated by injuries at quarterback. Jackson is expected to go on injured reserve with a right thumb injury he suffered in Sunday's 36-10 loss at the Buffalo Bills and is potentially out for the remainder of the season. To make matters worse, Tyler "Snoop" Huntley, Baltimore's top backup, is out for the season with turf toe, according to Schefter and Rapoport.

It's a move that can curb a free fall in Jesse Minter's first year as a head coach and Declan Doyle's first season as an offensive playcaller. Brissett offers hope of fielding a competitive offense.

The Ravens are so desperate at quarterback that they're starting undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano, who practiced with a brace on his injured right ankle, for Thursday night's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Baltimore's other two active quarterbacks on Thursday are Kedon Slovis and Austin Reed, both of whom were signed within the past three days. This means that the Ravens' three quarterbacks -- Fagnano, Slovis and Reed -- have combined for no previous starts, 23 total pass attempts and no touchdown passes.

Brissett, 33, provides much-needed experience at quarterback but not a winning track record. He's never had a winning record in any of his 11 NFL seasons, losing 16 of his last 19 starts.

His career record of 23-50 (.315) is the second worst in the NFL among quarterbacks with at least 50 starts over the past decade. The only quarterback with a worse record over that span is Justin Fields (16-37, .302).

The reason why Brissett was available was because he was benched by the Cardinals (3-5) and dropped to No. 3 on the depth chart. Baltimore has familiarity with him because Ravens quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork was Brissett's quarterbacks coach in Arizona last season.

Brissett has thrown 86 career touchdowns, which gives Baltimore a chance to get the offense out of its rut. The Ravens have been held to 14 points or less in three straight games, which hasn't happened in Baltimore in 21 years.

Even though Baltimore has been without Jackson for a majority of the season, the Ravens still have playmakers on offense in running back Derrick Henry and wide receiver Zay Flowers. But, over the past three weeks, Baltimore has been among the worst offenses in the league with off-target throws, poor offensive line play and penalties. Since Week 6, the Ravens have totaled more false starts (eight) than touchdowns (three).

It's been a startling turn of events for the Ravens, who entered the season as one of the Super Bowl favorites and started the season at 4-1. Baltimore's season unraveled after that when Jackson hurt his ankle and hand.

With a second half of the season left, there are several 30-or-older Ravens who aren't in a position to resign themselves to a lost season, from Henry to defensive end Calais Campbell to offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley. It's just a difficult challenge if Jackson doesn't return this season. Baltimore is 7-14 (.333) since 2019 when Jackson hasn't been its starting quarterback.

The addition of Brissett gives the Ravens a better option at quarterback than they had. But it remains to be seen whether Brissett improves their chances at turning the season around.