Ravens Finalize Trade for Jacoby Brissett

The Baltimore Ravens are acquiring quarterback Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals to address an emergency in their signal-caller position.

The need for a new leader in the huddle became immediate after a disastrous Sunday performance in Buffalo. Lamar Jackson suffered a right thumb injury on his first pass attempt during a 36-10 loss. The team confirmed he requires surgery and is moving to injured reserve. His season may be over.

The situation deteriorated further when backup Tyler Huntley entered the game. He suffered a toe injury that reports indicate will end his year as well. Rookie Joe Fagnano, the third-string option, finished the contest and is dealing with a right ankle injury. He wore a brace during Tuesday practice, according to ESPN.

Baltimore has attempted to fill the void with temporary measures. The team signed Kedon Slovis from Green Bay's practice squad and added Austin Reed to their own practice squad. These moves, however, did not provide a long-term solution. The Ravens are now turning to the trade market for a proven veteran.

Brissett is 33 years old and enters his twelfth NFL season. He has 73 career starts under his belt. Baltimore will be his seventh franchise in seven years. His previous stops include Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Arizona. The Ravens' website identifies 2025 as his best statistical year. Pro Football Focus notes he holds the lowest career interception rate since 2000 among quarterbacks with at least 2,500 pass attempts. That figure stands at 1.5%.

This season, Brissett completed 63.3% of his passes, per CBS Sports. His time in Arizona was ending on a down note. The Cardinals benched him during their Sunday win over Dallas. Coach Mike LaFleur named Gardner Minshew the starter and rookie Carson Beck the backup. Brissett dropped to third on the depth chart.

A personal connection exists between the two teams. Israel Woolfork, the Ravens' quarterbacks coach, worked with Brissett in Arizona in 2025 and in Cleveland in 2022. That familiarity should accelerate the learning curve for a player who must master a new offense quickly. LaFleur declined to confirm the deal officially. He told reporters, "Out of respect for the process, I'll let the process play out with that."

The trade is not yet official. ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday that the deal is in final stages. Compensation details remain unannounced. Brissett reportedly restructured his contract this offseason into a $15.5 million deal for 2026. It is unclear how much of that salary Baltimore will absorb or what draft capital Arizona will receive.

Fagnano will start on Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. ET at M&T Bank Stadium. He is only the second undrafted rookie to start a game in franchise history. The Ravens are 10-point home underdogs, their largest home spread in 11 years. After this week, eight regular-season games remain. Baltimore is 4-4 and last in the AFC North.

Brissett is expected to make his debut in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football. The trade is scheduled to be finalized this weekend. No return timeline has been announced for Jackson following his surgery.