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The Baltimore Ravens have reached an agreement to acquire quarterback Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals, according to ESPN. The trade is expected to be finalized this weekend, though the specific compensation involved has not yet been disclosed.
Addressing a Quarterback Crisis
The move comes as the Ravens face a significant shortage of healthy signal-callers. Two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson sustained a thumb injury during his first pass attempt against the Buffalo Bills this past Sunday, an injury that required surgery and could potentially end his season. The situation worsened when backup Tyler Huntley suffered a season-ending turf toe injury in the same game.
With Jackson and Huntley sidelined, the team was left with undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano as the primary option for their upcoming Thursday night game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fagnano is also currently managing an ankle injury, further complicating the team’s roster depth.
Brissett’s Role and Career Background
Brissett, who will turn 34 next month, joins the Ravens after spending the last two seasons with the Cardinals. He was recently moved to third-string status following a performance against the Dallas Cowboys, where Gardner Minshew replaced him and led a comeback victory. In that game, Brissett completed 10 of 23 passes for 119 yards and one interception.
Throughout the current season, Brissett has recorded 1,719 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions across eight games, maintaining a 63.3% completion rate. CBS Sports Research notes that his connection with tight end Trey McBride has been historic, producing the most yards per game for a quarterback-tight end duo since 1970. This trade marks the seventh team of Brissett’s career.
Impact on the Ravens
While the team acknowledges that Brissett cannot replicate Jackson’s specific offensive contributions, he brings significant experience to the roster. He has started 73 games in his career and holds a career interception percentage of 1.5%, which ranks as the second-lowest in NFL history, trailing only Aaron Rodgers. Furthermore, Brissett is one of only five quarterbacks over the last year to throw for at least 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns.
The transition also places Brissett in a more stable defensive environment. Over the past year, the Cardinals have allowed an average of 32.6 points per game, while the Ravens have allowed 22.6 points per game during the same period. Currently sitting at 4-4 and at the bottom of the AFC North, the Ravens hope the addition of a veteran quarterback will help them remain in contention for a playoff spot.
