Ravens Sign Brissett After Jackson Surgery and Huntley Injury

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is set to undergo surgery for a thumb injury, forcing the team to secure a permanent replacement before Thursday night's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The franchise has agreed to acquire Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals, a move expected to conclude over the weekend. No specific compensation details have been released as of Tuesday.

The roster crisis began during Sunday's matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Jackson was injured on his first pass attempt. Tyler Huntley, the designated backup, entered the game but suffered a season-ending turf toe injury. Joe Fagnano, an undrafted rookie dealing with an ankle issue, was projected to start Week 9 before the trade agreement.

Brissett's move to Baltimore follows a demotion in Arizona. He was moved to the third-string role after Gardner Minshew entered the Cardinals' game against the Dallas Cowboys. Minshew threw three touchdown passes, helping Arizona overcome a 14-point deficit to win 33-30 in overtime. In that contest, Brissett completed 10 of 23 passes for 119 yards and one interception.

The 34-year-old quarterback has completed 63.3% of his passes this season. His statistics include 1,719 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions across eight games. CBS Sports Research noted his connection with tight end Trey McBride produced 75.6 yards per game entering Week 8. That output is the highest for a quarterback and tight end combination since 1970, provided at least 15 games were played.

This transaction is the second trade of Brissett's career and his seventh team in the NFL. He has started 73 games with a record of 23 wins and 50 losses. He has thrown 86 more career touchdowns than all other healthy quarterbacks on the Ravens roster combined. His career interception percentage stands at 1.5%, tied for the second-lowest in NFL history behind Aaron Rodgers.

Brissett brings defensive support that differs from his previous environment. The Cardinals allowed 32.6 points per game over the last calendar year, a figure four points higher than any other team in the league. The Ravens allowed 22.6 points per game over the same period.

The Ravens currently sit in last place in the AFC North with a 4-4 record.