The Ravens Are Starting a Third-String Rookie QB and a Practice Squad Kicker on Thursday Night

The Baltimore Ravens are officially operating a triage unit. Head coach Jesse Minter just announced that kicker Tyler Loop is likely heading to injured reserve, while emergency rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano is banged up but expected to play on Thursday night.

If you are holding a Baltimore futures ticket, it might be time to look away. The Ravens are handing the keys to an undrafted rookie quarterback and a practice squad kicker on a short week. Jake Moody is stepping in to kick, which tells you exactly how desperate things have gotten in the special teams room.

"Jesse Minter said Fagnano is dealing with physical issues but they 'expect him to have a chance to play.'"

Fagnano is only in this position because the football gods decided to smite the Baltimore depth chart. Lamar Jackson is headed for thumb surgery and Tyler Huntley wrecked his toe, forcing Fagnano into action during a 36-10 blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills. He finished 10-of-21 for 91 yards, which is the kind of stat line that makes offensive coordinators stare blankly into the middle distance.

As for Loop, the IR stint feels like a mercy rule. He recently missed a 49-yarder in a brutal 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns, and fans still have not forgiven him for missing a 44-yard buzzer-beater against the Pittsburgh Steelers last season that cost them the AFC North crown. You can only shank so many high-leverage kicks before a phantom leg injury suddenly requires a multi-week vacation.

Now the 4-4 Ravens have to turn around and host the 5-2 Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday Night Football. Oddsmakers are going to have a field day trying to set a total for an offense led by a bruised third-stringer who took zero first-team reps last week.

Fagnano says he will control what he can control, which is a polite way of saying he is going to hand the ball off 40 times and pray. If Baltimore somehow survives Thursday night with this roster, Minter deserves a statue outside the stadium.