The Baltimore Ravens are likely to begin their offseason.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson will need surgery on a broken thumb he suffered in his first series against the Buffalo Bills. Backup Tyler “Snoop” Huntley also suffered a season-ending turf toe injury in that blowout loss.
Undrafted free agent Joe Fagnano, who played most of Baltimore’s preseason game, will be the starter for the Ravens. Former tight end Austin Reed was signed to the practice squad and the Ravens signed Kedon Slovis off the Green Bay Packers practice squad as another option.
At 4-4, the Ravens are in the basement of the AFC North.
It’s an improved division as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals both look primed for playoff pushes.
The Ravens have lost three games in a row. Their next opponent is the red-hot Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday Night Football. Kalshi, a popular prediction market that allows users to buy and sell contracts on real-world events like the NFL, is currently giving the Ravens a 19% chance to win this game.
John Harbaugh coached the Ravens for 18 seasons and finished below .500 just three times. There is a real world possibility that Jesse Minter could finish under .500 in his first season as Baltimore’s head coach.
Unless the bottom of the bag completely falls out, that doesn’t mean the Ravens are firing their coach for the first time in a season.
But they could lose Jackson and that would destroy the organization.
While the Ravens have a respectable defense, Jackson and Derrick Henry are the engine behind everything Baltimore has accomplished.
Their ability to run the football allows the Ravens to control time of possession. Jackson’s improved arm gives the Ravens a timely passing attack.
Jackson is a free agent in 2028. He can’t be ready to play in the final year of his contract without any security or cushion. The Ravens put themselves in this position when they failed to sign Jackson this offseason. But maybe they’re willing to make a change because his injury history is piling up and he’s not getting any younger.
The Ravens will certainly hear trade interest for Jackson, who is no stranger to awkward contract situations. With the 2027 NFL Draft quarterback class on the wane, teams could go all Baltimore to pass on the two-time MVP.
Where will that leave the Ravens?
Fagnano is completely unknown. But one certainty is that he is not as athletic as Jackson, and that will be on display against the Jaguars.
Another certainty is that he likely won’t be Baltimore’s long-term answer at quarterback.
And who? This is completely unknown at this time.