Ravens Finalize a Trade for Jacoby Brissett as the Season Slips

Ravens Finalize Jacoby Brissett Trade After Lamar Jackson Injury

Baltimore is finalizing a trade for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Ravens have lost three straight, sit 4-4 in last place in the AFC North and, per ESPN Analytics, have a 6.4% chance of making the playoffs and a 0.5% chance of winning the division.

Lamar Jackson is expected to go on injured reserve with a right thumb injury suffered in Sunday's 36-10 loss at Buffalo and could miss the rest of the season. Backup Tyler Huntley is out for the year with turf toe, so undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano starts Thursday night against Jacksonville. ESPN says the Ravens' three active quarterbacks that night have combined for no starts and 23 pass attempts.

Brissett is 33 and was benched by Arizona, falling to third on the depth chart. ESPN notes he has never had a winning record in 11 NFL seasons, and his 23-50 career mark is the second worst among quarterbacks with 50 or more starts over the past decade.

Our Read: What Brissett Fixes and What He Does Not

This section is our reading of the facts above, not reporting.

• The floor matters more than the ceiling. With three quarterbacks who have no starts between them, a veteran who knows the position is a real upgrade in basic operation, even if his results are poor.
• The offense has other problems. ESPN says the Ravens have more false starts (eight) than touchdowns (three) since Week 6, and have scored 14 points or fewer three games in a row. A new passer does not block anyone.
• The record cuts both ways. Brissett's win-loss mark reflects the teams he played for as well as his own play, so we would not read 23-50 as a pure verdict on him. It still does not suggest a rescue.
• Buying and not selling is a statement. ESPN says Baltimore could have sold veterans for picks in what is described as a loaded 2027 draft. Keeping them signals the front office still sees a window, though the playoff odds say the evidence is thin.

What to Watch in the Ravens Quarterback Plan

• Whether the trade is officially announced and when Brissett is ready to start, given he must learn the offense.
• How Fagnano plays Thursday, since he may start again if Brissett is not ready.
• Whether penalties and false starts fall once the offense has an experienced passer.
• Any update on Jackson's thumb that changes the rest-of-season picture.

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