Jacoby Brissett to Ravens: Fagnano starts Thursday

Jacoby Brissett will not be the Baltimore Ravens’ starting quarterback against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, November 5. The deal with the Arizona Cardinals was still being finalized Wednesday, and the NFL reported that it was expected to be completed over the weekend. For the immediate assignment, rookie Joe Fagnano is the designated starter.

That distinction matters: news that Brissett is headed to Baltimore does not mean the trade is already complete or that the player is immediately available. At publication time, the reviewed sources did not include an announcement from both clubs confirming that the transaction had been completed.

What has been reported about the deal

According to NFL.com, the Ravens and Cardinals were finalizing a trade for Brissett. The terms had not been reported, and completion was expected over the weekend — after Thursday’s game.

That sets two limits on how the news should be read. First, Brissett will not be acquired in time to face Jacksonville. Second, not every part of the move should be treated as official yet: the compensation, the precise completion date and the plan for using the quarterback depend on formal completion and later statements from the clubs.

NFL.com also reported an expectation that Brissett will start the following game against the Los Angeles Chargers. That projection should not be confused with a lineup decision announced by the coach. The Ravens’ official schedule lists Ravens-Chargers for November 16, providing the veteran with a longer window for a possible transition.

Why Joe Fagnano is the immediate choice

NFL.com reports that Fagnano will start against the Jaguars. Even before the Brissett news, the situation described by the Ravens had made the rookie the likeliest option.

On November 2, the club said Lamar Jackson had sustained a right thumb injury against the Buffalo Bills and would be placed on injured reserve. Tyler Huntley left that game with a toe injury. Fagnano was also dealing with physical issues, but he finished the game and was listed as a limited estimated participant in Monday’s walkthrough.

Head coach Jesse Minter said at the time that Fagnano would have a chance to play Thursday. In the Ravens’ quarterback update, he appeared to have the best chance of taking the field. Trading for Brissett addresses a broader need, but it does not change that short-term answer.

When the Jacksonville game takes place

Baltimore hosts Jacksonville on November 5 at 8:15 p.m. EST at M&T Bank Stadium, according to the club’s official schedule. The time is given in the time zone used by the source. US viewers should confirm the latest game and broadcast details on the Ravens’ schedule, as programming and availability can change.

The game comes only one day after the developing trade was reported. That short interval helps explain why the reported arrival of a veteran does not automatically change Thursday’s starter: the transaction still has to close, and the player will then need to join his new team.

Why Arizona created room for a trade

The shift began within the Cardinals’ own quarterback room. After the win over the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona promoted Gardner Minshew to starter and rookie Carson Beck to backup. Brissett, who had started that game, moved into the emergency third-quarterback role and was identified as a possible trade candidate.

Head coach Mike LaFleur said he wanted a spark for the team and acknowledged that the decision was not entirely about Brissett. The Cardinals’ official report shows that the depth-chart reorganization was established before the reported agreement with Baltimore.

Brissett played a substantial role in Arizona’s season. The team’s official 2026 statistics list 1,719 yards, ten touchdowns and seven interceptions on 305 passing attempts. Those figures illustrate the recent experience Baltimore is seeking, but they do not determine his place in the hierarchy once the transaction is completed.

What still needs confirmation

The reliable answer for Thursday is settled: Fagnano is the designated starter, and Brissett will not arrive in time for the game. For the following weeks, NFL.com has published an expectation, but the Ravens have not made an official decision public about the veteran’s first start.

The trade terms also remained undisclosed. Any claim about compensation or a permanent commitment by Baltimore to Brissett would therefore go beyond the available sources. The picture can become clearer once the clubs announce the transaction and the coaching staff explains its plans.

Until then, “finalizing a trade,” “completed trade” and “eligible to play” should be treated as separate stages. That timeline explains how the move may affect the Ravens’ next games without changing the quarterback selected to face Jacksonville.