Last season, in the ninth game of the 2025 campaign for the UConn Huskies, quarterback Joe Fagnano completed 23 of 30 passes for 267 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions.

The Baltimore Ravens certainly would take those numbers.

On Thursday, in the ninth game of the 2026 season for the Ravens, Fagnano will be the starting quarterback.

And, perhaps, for multiple weeks.

Ravens head coach Jesse Minter on Tuesday named the 25-year-old rookie the starter for the Ravens (4-4) at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2). On Sunday, in a road loss to the Buffalo Bills, both starting quarterback Lamar Jackson and his backup, Tyler “Snoop” Huntley, suffered injuries that left Fagnano the last man standing and gave him the first action of his NFL career.

The Ravens put Jackson, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, on injured reserve due to a thumb injury that will require surgery. He must miss a minimum of four games, but the injury could end his season.

And on Wednesday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Huntley’s turf toe injury will keep him out the rest of the season. The team has yet to confirm Huntley’s status.

Fagnano went unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Ravens moved quickly to sign him as an undrafted free agent. He impressed in workouts, in training camp and in preseason games and earned a spot on the 53-man roster.

Minter said Tuesday he has confidence in Fagnano.

“A guy that kind of waited around, was studying, was staying on top of his work and then took advantage of the opportunity when it came,” Minter told reporters. “He's cool, calm, collected -- doesn't really get rattled -- has a really good demeanor, played in a bunch of games in college, so you know you certainly feel good about it.”

He played in plenty of games, indeed.

A native of Williamsport, Pa., Fagnano began his college career in 2019 at FCS program Maine and appeared in 35 games over four seasons, throwing for 7,263 yards and 60 touchdowns.

He transferred to UConn after the 2022 season and went on to play in 24 games, completing 64.7% of his passes for 5,252 yards, 48 touchdowns and six interceptions. He had the fewest interceptions among qualified quarterbacks in the nation in his final season at UConn in 2025, throwing just one.

Two almost-full seasons lost to injuries and the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the pandemic led to his seven college seasons.

Fagnano woke up last Sunday as the emergency third QB for the Ravens and was thrown into action. He also was banged up during the game, suffering an ankle injury, and practiced on Tuesday wearing an ankle brace.

The Ravens addressed the QB situation by taking 25-year-old Kedon Slovis from the practice squad of the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday. Undrafted in 2024, Slovis appeared in two games with the Arizona Cardinals the following season and completed one pass for a 2-yard loss.

On Monday, they signed quarterback Austin Reed, 26, to their practice squad. He was with the Ravens in training camp.

But make no mistake – this job is Fagnano’s to lose.

His numbers against the Bills weren’t his UConn-like stats. Fagnano was 10-of-21 passing (47.6%) for 91 yards with an interception and a lost fumble.

It’s a tough situation for Fagnano, given the Ravens have a Thursday game and a short week.

He said Tuesday that he’s prepared for his first NFL start, shouting out his fellow QBs.

“It’s special. It’s really the only way I can think about it. You work a lot to get into this position,” he said of the starting opportunity.

“It’s unfortunate to see what happened to Lamar and Snoop, especially being two guys that I look up to since coming to this organization, with the Ravens. (They) have helped me out a ton, so that part is tough. I’ve had talks with them. It’s truly next man up mentality. My job now is just to play to the best of my ability.”