Ravens Sign Quarterback Austin Reed Amid Mounting Injuries

The Baltimore Ravens signed quarterback Austin Reed to their practice squad on Monday afternoon amidst a severe quarterback injury crisis following their 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. With a short week to prepare for an upcoming Thursday Night Football matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team moved quickly to secure depth under center.

Two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson injured his right thumb during Sunday's game against Buffalo and will require surgery, a development that could sideline him for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, backup quarterback Tyler Huntley suffered a turf toe injury in the second quarter, further depleting the team's roster options.

Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano, who took over playing duties after Huntley went down, is expected to make his first career start against Jacksonville. With Fagnano banged up from hits taken against the Bills and other rostered signal-callers sidelined or on injured reserve, Reed is expected to be elevated to backup status for Thursday's game.

Reed, 26, is already familiar with Baltimore's offensive system, having spent part of training camp and the preseason with the team. During the preseason, he appeared in all three games, completing 6 of 12 passes for 59 yards, throwing one touchdown pass, and adding a 14-yard rushing touchdown.

His professional career includes a stint on the Chicago Bears' practice squad during his rookie season, where he worked under current Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. He also played for the Dallas Renegades during the 2026 United Football League season, leading the league in passing.

During his college career, Reed played for Southern Illinois, West Florida, and Western Kentucky, finishing as college football's leading passer in 2022. He now steps into an immediate backup role as Baltimore looks to navigate a critical stretch of the NFL season with a heavily depleted quarterback room.