Ravens Finalizing Trade With Cardinals for Quarterback Jacoby Brissett After Injuries

The Baltimore Ravens are finalizing a trade with the Arizona Cardinals for quarterback Jacoby Brissett, according to reports on Wednesday, after injuries sidelined Lamar Jackson and backup Tyler Huntley. Jackson hurt his right thumb on his first pass attempt against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, needs surgery and is out indefinitely. Huntley is expected to miss the rest of the season with a turf-toe injury. Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano will start Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars, because the trade is not expected to be done in time. The deal is expected to be completed over the weekend, and compensation has not been finalized. Brissett, 33, lost the starting job and was dropped to third string after Gardner Minshew led Arizona to a 33-30 comeback win at Dallas. Brissett has completed 63.3% of his passes for 1,719 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He is expected to start against the Chargers in Week 10.

The left-leaning Guardian US frames the deal cautiously, as a trade the Ravens are "near," citing an anonymous person who spoke to the Associated Press. It gives Ravens' 4-4 and Jaguars' 5-2 records, Brissett's 23-50 record as a starter and his Patriots history, but not his contract. The right-leaning New York Post and Daily Mail lead with Baltimore having "solved" or "fixed" its problem. The Post adds his training-camp contract dispute, $15.5 million base salary and detailed passing and rushing numbers. The Daily Mail calls the Ravens "desperate" and notes his 3-5 record and Super Bowl ring as Tom Brady's backup. All agree on the injuries, the Thursday plan and the Chargers game. They differ on sourcing and on whether Baltimore is his seventh or eighth team. Alternative outlets CBS Sports and ESPN cite Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport, and CBS adds a Trey McBride yardage stat.