Joe Fagnano makes Ravens’ 53-man roster as third quarterback; Baltimore finalizes initial 2026 squad

The Baltimore Ravens made one of their most interesting roster decisions of the summer Sunday evening, keeping undrafted rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano as the third quarterback behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley as Baltimore finalized its initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season.

Fagnano’s inclusion represents one of the biggest surprises of cutdown weekend. Baltimore entered training camp with no guarantee it would devote three roster spots to quarterbacks, but Fagnano simply played too well for the Ravens to risk losing him on waivers.

The former UConn quarterback completed 56 of 75 passes during the preseason, a 74.7% completion rate, for an NFL-best 509 passing yards. He threw three touchdowns, added another touchdown on the ground and finished with a passer rating around 100. citeturn247247search3turn247247news37

The decision gives first-year Ravens head coach Jesse Minter an unusual amount of security behind Jackson. Huntley provides an experienced backup who already knows Baltimore, while Fagnano gives the organization a developmental quarterback who showed considerably more than the Ravens could reasonably expect from an undrafted rookie.

Fagnano forces Baltimore’s hand

Before the preseason finale, there was a legitimate argument that Baltimore could attempt to sneak Fagnano through waivers and bring him back on the practice squad.

Even the Ravens’ official website projected a two-quarterback roster Saturday, with Jackson and Huntley making the team and Fagnano being exposed to waivers. citeturn247247search5

Then the Ravens had to consider the obvious question: Would Fagnano actually clear?

After three impressive preseason performances, that became a significant gamble.

Fagnano played with poise beyond his experience level. He consistently made quick decisions, protected the football and showed that his remarkable final season at UConn — when he threw 28 touchdowns with just one interception — was not simply a product of college competition. citeturn247247search3

Baltimore ultimately decided that protecting the player was more important than using the roster spot elsewhere.

It was earned.

Ethan Burke wins one of the biggest roster battles

Fagnano was not the only undrafted rookie who forced Baltimore to change its plans.

Outside linebacker Ethan Burke made the 53 after an outstanding summer, continuing one of the most remarkable traditions in Ravens history. Baltimore has now had an undrafted rookie make its initial roster in 21 of the past 22 seasons. citeturn247247search0

Burke recorded six tackles, two forced fumbles, two passes defensed, two quarterback hits and a sack during the preseason. His performance ultimately helped push former third-round pick Adisa Isaac off the roster. citeturn247247search0turn247247search4

There is also a great Maryland connection.

Burke was born in Pasadena, grew up playing lacrosse in Anne Arundel County and originally committed to play lacrosse at Maryland before his football career ultimately took him to Texas and now the Ravens. citeturn247247search1

Baltimore has built a reputation for finding useful NFL players outside the draft, and Burke might be the latest example.

His opportunity becomes even more intriguing because he joins an edge group headlined by Trey Hendrickson, whom Baltimore signed to a four-year, $112 million contract during the offseason. Hendrickson recorded 17.5 sacks in both 2023 and 2024 and gives the Ravens an established premier pass rusher. citeturn727447search4

Ravens go light at running back

Perhaps the most noticeable construction decision on offense is Baltimore carrying only three running backs on the active roster.

Derrick Henry remains the unquestioned centerpiece of the backfield, with Justice Hill and Rasheen Ali behind him.

Rookie Adam Randall is listed on reserve/injured with a designation to return.

That explains why Baltimore could afford to open the season with three active running backs instead of four. Randall remains part of the organization’s plans and can potentially return later rather than being lost for the season.

Ali surviving cutdown day was another notable decision. The Ravens’ official website reported Sunday that Ali was expected to make the roster after showing explosiveness during the summer and providing value as a kickoff returner. citeturn404627news0

Young receivers get their opportunity

Baltimore kept six wide receivers:

Zay Flowers, Ja’Kobi Lane, Rashod Bateman, LaJohntay Wester, Elijah Sarratt and Devontez Walker.

The group has a distinctly young look behind Flowers and Bateman.

Rather than using a roster position on veteran Chris Moore, Baltimore chose to protect its developmental receivers. Moore was released despite catching three passes for 54 yards, including a touchdown, in Baltimore’s 41-3 preseason victory over Washington. He could still become a practice-squad option. citeturn404627news0turn404627news6

Lane, Sarratt and Wester give Baltimore several young receivers to develop around Jackson.

That becomes particularly important as the Ravens attempt to create more explosiveness and depth behind Flowers and Bateman.

Four tight ends survive

Baltimore kept Mark Andrews, Durham Smythe, Josh Cuevas and Matthew Hibner.

That is another position where the Ravens favored depth.

Andrews remains the centerpiece, but Smythe gives Baltimore an experienced blocking presence. That versatility became especially valuable because the Ravens decided not to carry a traditional fullback. Lucas Scott was among Baltimore’s cuts, and Smythe can handle some of those move-blocking responsibilities. citeturn404627news0

Cuevas and Hibner round out a group that could allow Baltimore to continue using multiple-tight-end formations even after the personnel turnover of recent seasons.

Offensive line has nine

Baltimore’s offensive line consists of:

Ronnie Stanley, Roger Rosengarten, John Simpson, Andrew Vorhees, Ethan Pocic, Emery Jones Jr., JoVaughn Gwyn, Vega Ioane and Carson Vinson.

The Ravens had several difficult decisions here.

Undrafted offensive tackle Diego Pounds was valuable enough that Baltimore did not simply release him. The Ravens traded Pounds to the Kansas City Chiefs before the deadline. citeturn404627news4

Veteran David Sharpe and Gerad Lichtenhan were among the tackles released. Lichtenhan has been mentioned as a potential practice-squad return candidate. citeturn404627news0

Pocic gives Baltimore veteran experience at center, while the Ravens continue developing young interior players around him.

Baltimore keeps six defensive linemen

The defensive line features:

Aeneas Peebles, Nnamdi Madubuike, Calais Campbell, John Jenkins, Broderick Washington and Travis Jones.

Peebles winning a roster spot was significant.

The 2025 sixth-round pick appeared in only six games as a rookie but showed noticeably more pass-rushing ability during his second training camp. His development made him difficult for Baltimore to expose to waivers. citeturn404627news0

The Ravens also transformed some of their excess defensive-line depth into draft capital.

Baltimore traded C.J. Okoye to the New York Giants for a 2028 seventh-round pick. Okoye played 13 games for the Ravens in 2025 and finished with 15 tackles. citeturn404627news5

Rookie seventh-round defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny was waived, while David Olajiga was also waived and could return on the practice squad. citeturn404627news0

Hendrickson headlines a deep linebacker corps

Baltimore’s linebackers are:

Roquan Smith, Zion Young, Mike Green, Trenton Simpson, Teddye Buchanan, Ethan Burke, Jay Higgins IV, Trey Hendrickson and Tavius Robinson.

This could become one of Baltimore’s most interesting defensive groups.

Smith remains the leader in the middle. Hendrickson gives Baltimore a proven difference-maker off the edge, while Green, Young, Robinson and Burke create an impressive combination of youth and upside.

Baltimore’s decision to keep Burke while releasing Isaac makes it clear that this coaching staff was willing to evaluate the roster based on current performance rather than draft status.

Isaac was a third-round pick in 2024 but appeared in only four games over his first two seasons, recording four tackles and no sacks. He did finish his preseason with six tackles and a sack against Washington, but Burke’s overall summer won the competition. citeturn247247search0

Secondary remains loaded with talent

The Ravens kept 10 defensive backs:

Nate Wiggins, Chidobe Awuzie, Kyle Hamilton, Jaylinn Hawkins, Malaki Starks, T.J. Tampa Jr., Chandler Rivers, Keyon Martin, Keondre Jackson and Marlon Humphrey.

That group gives Minter enormous flexibility.

Hamilton remains one of the NFL’s premier defensive chess pieces, while Humphrey and Wiggins give Baltimore established talent at cornerback. Starks adds another high-end young defensive back capable of being deployed in multiple ways.

One younger player worth watching is Rivers. The rookie cornerback had an impressive preseason, including a performance against Minnesota in which he surrendered only six yards on five targets while also contributing a sack and two run stops. citeturn247247news35

K’Von Wallace was among Baltimore’s cuts, although reports indicated the veteran safety could return on the practice squad. citeturn404627news0

Cornerback Bilhal Kone will start the season on injured reserve with a designation to return after suffering a quad injury. citeturn404627news0

Ravens stay with Tyler Loop

One question Baltimore has not completely eliminated concerns kicker Tyler Loop.

Loop made the 53-man roster alongside rookie punter Ryan Eckley and veteran long snapper Nick Moore.

Loop struggled in the preseason finale against Washington. He connected from 51 yards but missed attempts from 58 and 51 yards before eventually making a shorter kick. He finished the preseason 5-for-8 on field-goal attempts. citeturn247247search14turn727447search9

Baltimore will hope consistency comes once the regular season begins.

Moore provides stability around both young specialists. The Ravens signed their veteran long snapper to a four-year extension earlier this year after he re-established himself as one of the league’s dependable specialists. citeturn727447search0

Baltimore Ravens initial 53-man roster

Quarterbacks (3): Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley, Joe Fagnano

Running backs (3): Derrick Henry, Rasheen Ali, Justice Hill

Wide receivers (6): Zay Flowers, Ja’Kobi Lane, Rashod Bateman, LaJohntay Wester, Elijah Sarratt, Devontez Walker

Tight ends (4): Durham Smythe, Josh Cuevas, Matthew Hibner, Mark Andrews

Offensive line (9): Emery Jones Jr., JoVaughn Gwyn, Roger Rosengarten, Vega Ioane, Andrew Vorhees, John Simpson, Carson Vinson, Ethan Pocic, Ronnie Stanley

Defensive line (6): Aeneas Peebles, Nnamdi Madubuike, Calais Campbell, John Jenkins, Broderick Washington, Travis Jones

Linebackers (9): Roquan Smith, Zion Young, Mike Green, Trenton Simpson, Teddye Buchanan, Ethan Burke, Jay Higgins IV, Trey Hendrickson, Tavius Robinson

Defensive backs (10): Nate Wiggins, Chidobe Awuzie, Kyle Hamilton, Jaylinn Hawkins, Malaki Starks, T.J. Tampa Jr., Chandler Rivers, Keyon Martin, Keondre Jackson, Marlon Humphrey

Specialists (3): Ryan Eckley, Tyler Loop, Nick Moore

Reserve/Injured — Designated for Return: Adam Randall, Bilhal Kone

A roster with several great stories

The biggest takeaway from Baltimore’s initial roster is that the Ravens rewarded performance.

Fagnano was not drafted. He nevertheless played well enough that Baltimore was unwilling to risk losing him.

Burke was not drafted either. He beat out a former third-round pick and extended Baltimore’s remarkable tradition of undrafted rookies making the team.

Peebles developed enough to earn another opportunity. Ali survived a competitive running-back battle. Several young receivers were protected instead of Baltimore opting for veteran security.

The Ravens also turned excess depth into future draft capital with the trades of Okoye and Pounds rather than simply losing them during cuts. citeturn404627news4turn404627news5

None of this guarantees that Sunday’s roster will be the roster Baltimore takes into Week 1. Initial 53-man rosters rarely remain untouched after the waiver period, and the Ravens will now begin assembling their practice squad and evaluating players released elsewhere.

But the first major roster-building decision of the Jesse Minter era is complete.

And after Baltimore finished an undefeated preseason by crushing Washington 41-3, there were enough strong performances that several difficult decisions had to be made. citeturn404627news6

Perhaps no player made that decision harder than Joe Fagnano.

The Ravens ultimately decided three quarterbacks were not a luxury after all.

Fagnano made himself too valuable to lose. memcite

I can also keep an eye on any Ravens waiver claims, practice-squad signings and post-cutdown roster changes over the next few days.
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