The Baltimore Ravens’ season took a sharp turn for the worse on Sunday when Lamar Jackson suffered a right thumb injury on his first offensive play against the Buffalo Bills.
Returning from a high-ankle sprain that had already cost him three games, the two-time MVP’s day ended almost immediately after his hand collided with Bills edge rusher Greg Rousseau on a throw.
Coach Jesse Minter confirmed afterward that Jackson will undergo surgery and be placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least four games and potentially ending his 2026 campaign.
Backup Tyler Huntley also left with a toe injury, forcing undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano into the game as the Ravens fell 36-10 and dropped to 4-4.
In the aftermath, speculation has turned to outside help before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
Michael Silver of The Athletic listed several quarterbacks who could theoretically stabilize the Ravens, including Bears backup Tyson Bagent (who previously worked with Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle), Kirk Cousins, Daniel Jones, and former Baltimore starter Joe Flacco, now serving as Joe Burrow’s backup in Cincinnati.
Silver framed the situation bluntly, noting the Ravens’ sudden depth crisis and the short window remaining to act.
Flacco’s candidacy carries obvious narrative weight.
The 41-year-old spent the first 11 seasons of his career in Baltimore, led the franchise to its second Super Bowl title in 2012, and earned Super Bowl MVP honors after throwing 11 touchdowns without an interception in that postseason.
He remains the Ravens’ all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.
More recently, he showed he can still produce when called upon: after being traded to Cincinnati last season, he started six games and threw 13 touchdowns against four interceptions while elevating an offense built around Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. He re-signed with the Bengals on a one-year deal this offseason.
Acquiring him would not be straightforward.
Cincinnati sits at 5-2 and relies on Flacco as experienced insurance behind Burrow; dealing a proven backup to a division rival would require significant compensation and a willingness to weaken their own contingency plans.
Age is another factor—Flacco is in his 19th season—and any new quarterback would have little time to absorb the system before Thursday night’s home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Other names, particularly Bagent given his prior relationship with Doyle, appear more realistic in the short term.
Still, the mere mention of Flacco underscores how quickly the Ravens’ outlook has shifted.
What began as a season with Super Bowl aspirations is now a scramble for competence at the game’s most important position, with the trade deadline offering one last chance to alter the trajectory.
