Less than a week ago, Joe Fagnano wasn’t even on most people’s radars as a potential starter for the Baltimore Ravens. Now, the undrafted 25-year-old from UConn will make his first NFL start in Week 9 for a 4-4 Ravens team hosting the 5-2 Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday Night Football.
Fagnano, who signed with Baltimore as a free agent in April after going undrafted in 2026, was the emergency third-string QB last Sunday against Buffalo. Lamar Jackson, just back from a three-game absence for a high-ankle sprain, injured his thumb on Baltimore’s opening play and was placed on injured reserve, while backup Tyler Huntley left in the second quarter with a toe injury that ended his season. Fagnano finished that game 10-of-21 for 91 yards with one interception and was sacked three times; he also suffered an ankle injury but stayed in during Baltimore’s 36-10 loss.
He now draws a tough matchup against a confident Jacksonville squad fresh off a 42-7 blowout of the Indianapolis Colts. Trevor Lawrence tossed three touchdown passes in that win, and Bhayshul Tuten posted career highs with 104 rushing yards and 55 receiving yards — including a 39-yard rushing TD and a 25-yard TD catch — though Tuten is listed as questionable with an ankle issue. Lawrence, 23, remains a possible game-time uncertainty but has thrown seven TDs over his last two games.
Historically, Jacksonville leads the series 13-11 but dropped a 23-7 home game to Baltimore in their most recent meeting in 2023. Baltimore has prevailed in seven of the last eight home games against the Jags; the lone setback in that stretch was a 22-20 loss on a last-second field goal in 2015. Early consensus betting markets have Jacksonville as roughly a 10-point favorite for Thursday night.
Beyond this primetime game, Thursday’s sports slate offers other wagering opportunities, including two NBA matchups, an 11-game NHL card and a couple of college football games. Here are a few top betting angles for Nov. 5 (all times Eastern):
– Jaguars at Ravens — 8:15 p.m., Baltimore; TV: Prime Video; Stream: Fubo
SportsLine model: Over 39.5 (-110). Expert pick: Trevor Lawrence under 29.5 pass attempts (-101). With Baltimore starting a third-string quarterback, the model expects Jacksonville to provide most of the scoring — Jacksonville averages about 28 points per game and has hit 31 points in four of seven outings. Lawrence has thrown seven TDs in his last two games but has been relatively conservative with pass attempts this season, and an early Jacksonville lead could prompt them to rely more on the run.
– Heat at Warriors — 10 p.m., San Francisco; TV: NBA TV; Stream: Fubo
SportsLine model: Over 234.5 (-111). Expert pick: Klay Thompson under 13.5 points (-125). Miami and Golden State rank among the league’s highest-scoring teams, and recent games suggest another high total is likely. Still, the expert expects Thompson to be limited after a big scoring night in Miami’s recent overtime win.
– Canucks at Jets — 8 p.m., Winnipeg; TV/Stream: ESPN+ / Fubo
SportsLine model: Under 6.5 (-118). Both clubs have struggled to score this season, and the model projects a low-scoring game, with the Under landing in roughly two-thirds of simulations.
– UTSA at Florida Atlantic — 7:30 p.m., Boca Raton; TV: ESPN; Stream: Fubo
SportsLine model: Under 72.5 (-112). Although both teams rank among the nation’s higher-scoring offenses, UTSA’s games have generally been lower scoring and FAU’s recent matchups have varied. The model favors the Under in most simulations, expecting another relatively contained total.
Fan Take: This unexpected start for Joe Fagnano is a reminder of how quickly NFL storylines can change and why depth at quarterback is vital. For fans, it’s a chance to see a rookie seize an opportunity and could influence how teams value and develop undrafted QBs going forward.
Source: www.cbssports.com
