UConn Football Alum Struggles Mightily in First NFL Start

UConn Huskies football alum Joe Fagnano struggled in his first NFL start, which came on Thursday night as the Baltimore Ravens lost 33-10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Baltimore, which is playing without former MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, is now 4-5. Jacksonville is 6-2.

Fagnano went just 10-of-18 for 60 yards. He had no touchdowns and two interceptions. His quarterback rating was just 22.7. The Ravens seemingly tried to take the ball out of his hands as much as possible, utilizing multiple direct snaps to those in the backfield.

The NFL is a results-based business, so no one is going to make excuses for Fagnano, but we do need to acknowledge the tough situation he is/was in.

Fagnano didn't dress for the first several weeks of the Ravens season, and then last Sunday, he had to enter the game as the third-string emergency quarterback when the Ravens played the Buffalo Bills. The third-string emergency quarterback doesn't get many reps throughout the week.

That alone is a tough situation, but then to turn around and start on a short week against one of the AFC's best teams? That's virtually impossible. And it showed. Fagnano was also hobbled by a foot injury suffered last week.

The Ravens acquired former New England Patriots starter Jacoby Brissett in a trade this week from the Arizona Cardinals, so he figures to start moving forward as both Jackson and Tyler "Snoop" Huntley are out. Fagnano probably won't get another chance, but if he had it after a full week and change of preparation, he'd likely be much better.

Fagnano actually spent seven years in college between his four years at FCS Maine and his three years in Storrs, so he has a lot of game experience under his belt. He took full advantage of redshirts and COVID exemptions to stay in school and he re-wrote the record books for the program.

In 2025, he led the Huskies to a 9-4 record and a berth in the Fenway Bowl. He threw 28 touchdowns against just one interception.

He, Cam Edwards and Skyler Bell formed an excellent offensive trio for former head coach Jim Mora that resulted in Bell being named an All-American at wide receiver.

Fagnano was undrafted but signed with Baltimore following the draft. Bell was drafted in the fourth round by Buffalo and Edwards is currently playing at Michigan State.

UConn (4-4) will welcome North Carolina to town on Saturday afternoon. It will be Bill Belichick's return to New England.