The Baltimore Ravens stepped in as their emergency QB on Sunday with rookie Joe Fagnano, who had not been released until late in the second quarter since quarterback Lamar Jackson’s return from a three-week layoff.
Jackson missed the Buffalo Bills game in Baltimore with a thumb injury. He suffered on the Ravens’ first offensive play, and backup quarterback Tyler Huntley left the game in the first minute of the second quarter with a toe injury.
Fagnano, one of the Ravens’ game-day inactives, was able to get into the game thanks to a “revival.”The third quarter rule” in 2023.
The rule was originally set for the 1991 NFL season. The criteria, in addition to the 45 active players on game day, was that teams could designate a player as an emergency third-quarterback and the player would not count toward the active game day roster. However, if the third quarter team enters the game before the end of the third quarter, the starter and reserve are eligible for the remainder of the game. If the emergency third quarterback enters the game in the fourth quarter, the first two quarterbacks remain eligible.
The rule was discontinued in 2011 when the NFL increased its game day roster size to 46 players.
The rule was revised and brought back in 2023 after the San Francisco 49ers lost starter Brock Purdy and backup Josh Johnson in the NFC Championship Game, leaving the 49ers without a true quarterback to return to the rotation. (Purdy returned to the game, but was unable to throw the ball due to a right elbow injury that required surgery.)
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Under current standards, the team can name the third-string quarterback as an emergency quarterback even if he is one of the players on the inactive list made official 90 minutes before the game. If the starter and backup are unable to play due to injury or incapacity, the emergency third-string quarterback may enter the game. If any player in front of him is unable to play for some other reason, such as a performance or equipment problem, the third-string quarterback cannot enter the game.
Groups can only use this advantage If the third-string quarterback is on the active 53-man roster. It can’t be one of the practice squad calls before the game.
Unlike the original version of the rule, if the starter or backup is healthy and ready to step in again, he must return and replace the emergency quarterback. If any player originally out to trigger the rule must leave again due to injury, the emergency quarterback may step back in.
On Sunday, Jackson was waived by the Ravens after suffering a thumb injury. Huntley was later disqualified. According to the telecast, Ravens running back Justice Hill is Baltimore’s next option at quarterback behind Fagnano.
What to know about Fagnano
Fagnano, an undrafted free agent out of Connecticut, was one of the most impressive rookie pitchers in the preseason. as a The athleticsDaniel Popper wrote Following Baltimore’s preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, he said, “Throughout the preseason, Fagnano has been a standout at center quarterback play. He looks like he has a future in the NFL. In that outing, Fagnano completed 15 of 20 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown.”
More from Popper: “Combines a quick release with enough arm strength. He sees the field well. Fagnano has been able to explore some fakes under Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores, finding soft spots in zone coverages in the short and middle areas of the field.
Fagnano spent seven seasons in college, the first four at Maine three years ago at UConn. In his final season at UConn, he completed 69 percent of his passes for 3,448 yards, 28 touchdowns and just one interception. He was the 10th ranked quarterback in the 2026 draft class. The athleticsDane Brugler’s “The beast” He was given a seventh round class.
