Should the Ravens Give Their 2026 Undrafted Rookie QB the Nod Over Tyler Huntley in Week Five?

Lamar Jackson’s ankle injury has left the Ravens with more than uncertainty surrounding their starting quarterback. It has also opened a debate about who should lead the offense if he cannot play Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons. Tyler Huntley represents the familiar option, a veteran backup with experience stepping into the starting role, who resigned with Baltimore this offseason. Joe Fagnano, Baltimore’s 2026 undrafted rookie signing, offers a less proven alternative after showing flashes during the preseason.

Jackson suffered the sprained ankle late in the first half against the Tennessee Titans, leaving Huntley to take over on short notice. Now, the question is whether Jackson can recover quickly enough to return against Atlanta or whether Baltimore will need to prepare for a longer absence. Head coach Jesse Minter has said he does not expect the injury to be “crazy long-term.” However, that reassurance does not settle who will be under center when the Ravens take the field Sunday night.

An Uncertain Timeline

According to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, Jackson has only an outside chance of playing against the Falcons. His recovery could also determine whether the absence stretches across multiple games. Minter’s comments and the reporting about missed time are not necessarily contradictory, but they leave Baltimore without a firm timetable. For the Ravens, the practical response is to prepare a backup to start while allowing Jackson’s availability to become clearer.

The potential length of Jackson’s absence adds another layer to the decision. Choosing someone to navigate a single game is different from deciding who should lead the offense for several weeks. Huntley’s experience gives Baltimore a reason to lean toward him for the immediate assignment. A longer absence, however, would make the performance of the backup offense, and the alternatives available, an increasingly important conversation.

The Case for Huntley

Huntley gave the Ravens a steady presence after Jackson exited against Tennessee. He managed the game without delivering the kind of performance that would eliminate any debate about the position. Still, entering unexpectedly deserves a different evaluation than starting after a full week of preparation. His relief appearance should be part of the discussion, but it should not become the entire argument against him.

There is also value in having a quarterback who has previously handled starting responsibilities. Huntley has been called upon before and has shown that he can help his team win games. That history does not guarantee a strong performance against Atlanta, but it provides a more established basis for the decision than preseason promise alone. If Baltimore wants the more experienced option while Jackson recovers, Huntley has a straightforward case.

The concern is whether steadiness will be enough. Huntley’s performance against Tennessee did not offer much evidence of a higher offensive ceiling, even if the circumstances limited what could reasonably be expected of him. Baltimore must weigh his ability to manage the game against its need to create enough offense to win it. Experience matters, but it should not make a quarterback immune from scrutiny.

The Case for Fagnano

Fagnano brings a different kind of appeal to the conversation. The undrafted rookie showed flashes during the preseason, giving Baltimore a reason to remain interested in what he might offer under center. Those moments make him worth discussing rather than dismissing solely because he lacks Huntley’s experience. They do not, however, establish that he is ready to outperform the veteran in a regular season start.

That distinction is essential to making a fair argument for Fagnano. Preseason promise can justify further consideration without becoming proof that a player should immediately move ahead of an established backup. The question is not simply whether Fagnano looked encouraging, but whether those performances provide enough evidence to trust him against Atlanta. Baltimore would need to believe that his potential benefits outweigh the uncertainty of giving an undrafted rookie his first starting opportunity.

There is a tempting simplicity to calling for the unknown whenever the familiar option looks ordinary. Fagnano has not yet accumulated the regular season performances that would expose his limitations in the same way Huntley’s appearances have. That makes it easier to imagine what the rookie could become than to judge what he currently is. A compelling case for starting him must rest on more than the possibility that he might provide a spark.

Who Should Get the Nod?

For now, Huntley is the more defensible choice to start if Jackson cannot face the Falcons. His previous starting experience and his ability to manage the Tennessee game provide a firmer foundation than Fagnano’s preseason flashes. Giving Huntley a full week to prepare would also offer a fairer test than judging him only on an unexpected relief appearance. That does not mean Baltimore should commit to him indefinitely if Jackson’s absence lasts longer than expected.

Fagnano should remain part of the conversation, particularly if the offense struggles to function with Huntley under center. The Ravens should neither rush the rookie into action because he is intriguing nor dismiss him because he arrived as an undrafted signing. Their decision should follow the evidence of who can give the team its best chance to win. Huntley deserves the first opportunity, but what he does with it should determine how long the debate stays closed.