The Ravens are finalizing a trade with Arizona for QB Jacoby Brissett. Here is what is reported, when he could play and what is still unknown.
The Baltimore Ravens are finalizing a trade for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett, according to reports Wednesday, Nov. 4, from ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The deal is expected to be completed this weekend, which means Brissett will not play in Thursday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is expected to take over as the starter in Week 10.
Why are the Ravens trading for Jacoby Brissett?
Because they ran out of quarterbacks. Lamar Jackson hurt his right thumb on his first snap of Sunday's 36-10 loss at Buffalo, and ESPN reports the injury is potentially season-ending and needs surgery. Backup Tyler Huntley then went down with a turf toe injury on his right foot, and ESPN and NFL Network both report he is out for the season.
That leaves undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano to start Thursday night. ESPN notes that Fagnano, Austin Reed and Kedon Slovis, the Ravens' top three quarterbacks right now, have combined for 23 career pass attempts and no touchdown passes in the NFL. Baltimore is 4-4, in last place in the AFC North, and coming off three straight losses, according to NFL.com.
Why was Brissett available?
Arizona benched him on Sunday. Brissett had started the last 20 games for the Cardinals, but he came out late in the third quarter of their 33-30 overtime win over the Dallas Cowboys, and Gardner Minshew II took over. On Monday, coach Mike LaFleur named Minshew the starter and rookie Carson Beck the backup, with Brissett third on the depth chart.
ESPN's Josh Weinfuss reports Brissett asked for a trade that same day. Talks with Baltimore started Sunday after the game and picked up Tuesday afternoon, per a source cited by ESPN.
There is also a familiar face waiting. Ravens quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork held the same job in Arizona last season, and ESPN says he also worked with Brissett in Cleveland in 2022. NFL.com argues that history should help Brissett pick up the offense quickly.
What is confirmed and what is not?
- Reported by ESPN and NFL Network: Baltimore is finalizing the trade, with completion expected this weekend.
- Reported: Brissett will not be available Thursday. Fagnano starts against Jacksonville.
- Reported: Brissett is expected to start in Week 10, when the Ravens host the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football.
- Not yet reported: the trade compensation. NFL.com says the terms of the swap were not reported.
- Not official: neither team had announced the deal in the reports we read, so it is not done until it is.
The money is murkier. ESPN says Brissett was given $15.5 million guaranteed for this season after he held out for a reworked contract in the offseason. Other outlets describe the base salary differently, so we are not quoting a figure for what Baltimore would owe. NFL.com says the move lets Arizona shed salary.
What should U.S. fans watch for next?
Thursday's game is the first test. The Ravens face the 5-2 Jaguars at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video, and ESPN's scoreboard lists Jacksonville as a 10-point favorite. Our own guide to how to watch that game is linked below.
After that, the clock matters. The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. CT, according to Pro Football Rumors, so a weekend completion leaves little room for anything to fall apart. For fantasy players, NBC Sports says Brissett's arrival stabilizes the value of Baltimore's pass catchers, though that is a projection and not a result.
Our take
This is a rescue move, not a splash. NFL.com calls Brissett a journeyman who can run an offense, and also notes that some off-target throws began to hurt Arizona. That fits what the Ravens need for a few weeks: someone steady while Jackson is out. It does not make Baltimore a contender on its own. Sportsbook odds cited by Sports Illustrated moved against the Ravens even with the trade in the works.
The open question is how much Baltimore gives up. A late-round pick would be easy to shrug off. Anything bigger for a rental on a short-term fix would be harder to defend. We will know more once the terms are out.
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Picture credit: Photo: Erik Drost (CC BY 2.0)
