Ravens still working through QB injuries — and now one for kicker Tyler Loop

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The Ravens are days away from hosting a 5-2 Jacksonville Jaguars team for “Thursday Night Football,” and coach Jesse Minter said they still don’t know who’s going to start at quarterback.

After two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and backup Tyler Huntley were hurt in Sunday’s 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills, rookie Joe Fagnano finished out the game.

But he was seen icing his right ankle on the bench and admitted after the game he wasn’t 100%. A day later, Minter said Fagnano is “kind of fighting through a couple things he’s dealing with.”

Which means the Ravens are “kind of working through some things” to figure out who will start, Minter said.

Minter said he expects Fagnano, who was estimated to be a limited participant in Monday’s walk-through practice, to “have a chance” to play. But the Ravens also signed Austin Reed, who was with the team through training camp, to the practice squad.

Reed, who went undrafted in 2024, spent time with the Chicago Bears while offensive coordinator Declan Doyle was there. He saw time in all three of the Ravens preseason games and completed 6-of-12 attempts for 59 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also ran in a touchdown.

The Ravens currently don’t have any other quarterbacks on the roster. Running back Justice Hill is the emergency quarterback if all else fails. He was estimated to be a limited participant with a groin injury.

Minter did not have a timetable for Jackson’s or Huntley’s return. He said Jackson has not yet undergone surgery on his thumb but declined to offer specifics on the nature of the injury.

The Ravens should have a better idea about Jackson’s timeline “sometime this week,” Minter said. Huntley is “probably” not an option for this week, he said, and they’ll “see how it goes from a long-term standpoint.”

Kicker depth takes a hit

Tyler Loop could be placed on injured reserve because of a right groin injury, Minter said. An IR stint would sideline the struggling kicker for at least four games, meaning the earliest Loop could return is after the bye for the team’s Week 14 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“We’ll see how that shakes out,” Minter said.

Minter said Loop had been “dealing with something small,” only for the injury to become “a little bit more.” After missing a 34-yard field goal and making a 26-yarder in Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills, Loop is 13-for-17 (76.5%) this season. He’s 5-for-5 on field goals of at least 50 yards, but he’s 4-for-8 on kicks between 30 and 49 yards. Loop also booted the Ravens’ opening kickoff out of bounds Sunday, giving the Bills possession at the 40-yard line.

Practice squad kicker Jake Moody will kick Thursday, Minter said. Moody, a 2023 third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers, last kicked in a regular-season game at the end of last season. He was 19-for-23 (82.6%) last season in stints for the 49ers, Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders. He also went 15-for-16 on extra points.

Protection returns

The Ravens’ playoff odds plummeted with the loss of Jackson. But they got good news about the protection up front, with guard Vega Ioane indicating he is close to returning from a knee injury.

The rookie has been a critical part of this Ravens team in his 7 games in the NFL. When the Ravens lost all three of their centers in Week 3, he switched positions.

As a center from Weeks 4-6, he allowed just four pressures on 117 pass blocks. His 3.4% pressure rate at center was the third-lowest among centers with at least 50 pass blocks.

The Ravens traded for center Cam Jurgens in Week 5, but he was in concussion protocol until Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals. In Ioane’s first game back at guard, he was injured.

Ioane returned to practice ahead of the Bills game, but he wasn’t ready to play. He’s expecting to come back versus Jacksonville.

“I am confident in my ability to be able to come out,” said Ioane, who was estimated to be a limited participant in the walkthrough. “If I was ready to go last Sunday, I would have gone. But I didn’t want to go out there and be a liability to the team. But I feel confident now. See how practice feels tomorrow. If I’m ready to go, I’m going to be ready to go.”

The Ravens’ offensive line allowed its quarterbacks to be pressured on 55% of their drop-backs against the Bills, including quick pressures (2.5 seconds or less) on 20%.

Ioane said it was hard watching Jackson go down and that the offensive line doesn’t need anyone to tell them their performance wasn’t good enough.

“But I have big faith in our O-line, and I still do,” Ioane said. “The guys that went out there and played, they did their job to the best of their ability, and that’s all there is to it.”

Going down the list

The Ravens had 18 players listed on their injury report as they look to make a quick turn for Thursday.

Nose tackle John Jenkins (knee) and right tackle Roger Rosengarten (ankle) were new additions the injury report. Both were limited participants.

Outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson (finger/ribs), guard John Simpson (back) and linebacker Roquan Smith (foot) have all been on the injury report but now have new ailments. All three were limited.

Safety Jaylinn Hawkins, who has been dealing with a knee injury, did not practice. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (rest/toe/ankle) continues to be a limited participant.

Tight end Mark Andrews (hand), tight end Matthew Hibner (hand) cornerback Nate Wiggins (stinger) and running back Adam Randall (neck, designated to return from IR) were all full participants. Defensive end Calais Campbell took a rest day.