Baltimore Ravens Sign Quarterback Austin Reed to Practice Squad Following Injuries, Release Lucas Scott
By Brian Hradsky
Maryland Sports Blog | November 2, 2026
The Baltimore Ravens have brought back a familiar face at quarterback as injuries create uncertainty surrounding their offensive plans ahead of a short week. Baltimore announced Monday that it signed quarterback Austin Reed to its practice squad while releasing fullback Lucas Scott to create an opening. The move comes after both Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley suffered injuries during Sunday’s 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills, leaving the Ravens facing serious questions about their quarterback depth.
Reed, who previously spent time with Baltimore during the 2026 preseason, returns to an organization where he already has experience with the offensive system. His signing provides the Ravens with another quarterback capable of preparing for Thursday night’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. With limited practice time available, Baltimore prioritized familiarity over bringing in a completely new quarterback who would need additional time to learn the offense.
Injuries to Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley Force Baltimore to Make a Move
The Ravens entered Sunday’s matchup against Buffalo hoping to build momentum in the AFC North race, but their quarterback situation quickly became the bigger story. Jackson suffered a thumb injury, while Huntley dealt with a toe injury, forcing Baltimore to turn to Joe Fagnano. The injuries created immediate uncertainty surrounding the team’s most important position.
Fagnano made his NFL regular-season debut against Buffalo after both quarterbacks went down. He completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards, threw an interception and lost a fumble during Baltimore’s 36-10 defeat. The performance illustrated the challenges facing a young quarterback suddenly forced into action against an NFL defense without the benefit of extensive first-team preparation.
The Ravens now face the possibility of entering Thursday’s game with Fagnano as their primary available quarterback and Reed serving as his backup. That arrangement remains dependent on the health of Jackson and Huntley, whose availability has not been definitively established. Baltimore’s medical evaluations and practice participation will play a significant role in determining how the quarterback depth chart looks against Jacksonville.
Austin Reed Returns After Spending Training Camp With the Ravens
Reed originally joined Baltimore on August 12, 2026, after the team placed quarterback Skylar Thompson on injured reserve. The former Western Kentucky standout participated in training camp and appeared in all three of Baltimore’s preseason games. Although he did not survive the final roster cuts in August, the experience provided him with valuable exposure to the Ravens’ offensive personnel and terminology.
During his three preseason appearances, Reed completed six of 12 passes for 59 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also demonstrated mobility, scoring a rushing touchdown on a 14-yard run. While the passing statistics came from a relatively small sample, Reed showed enough versatility to provide the Ravens with a quarterback who can operate beyond the pocket when necessary.
Baltimore ultimately waived Reed during its final roster reductions on August 30. The decision reflected the competition for limited roster spots rather than necessarily eliminating him from future consideration. Just over two months later, injuries have created an opportunity for Reed to return and potentially play a meaningful role in the team’s quarterback rotation.
Reed’s College Football Career Included Major Success at Western Kentucky
Before entering professional football, Reed built an extensive college résumé that included stops at Southern Illinois, West Florida and Western Kentucky. His collegiate journey was unconventional, but it gave him considerable starting experience and exposure to different offensive systems. Reed developed into a productive passer who demonstrated the ability to handle a high-volume passing attack.
Reed received Conference USA Newcomer of the Year honors and second-team All-Conference USA recognition in 2022. His production helped establish him as a legitimate professional prospect despite taking a less traditional path to the NFL. His experience at multiple levels of college football also required him to adjust to different coaching staffs, playbooks and competition.
Across his college career, Reed appeared in 52 games and compiled a 38-14 record in those appearances, according to NFL Trade Rumors. The publication credits him with 14,488 passing yards, 138 passing touchdowns and 36 interceptions, along with 636 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. Those totals illustrate the substantial amount of offensive responsibility he carried before transitioning into professional football.
Professional Journey Included Chicago Bears and United Football League
Reed entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears following the 2024 NFL Draft. Chicago retained him on its practice squad after the preseason, providing an opportunity to continue developing against professional competition. The Bears subsequently signed him to a reserve/future contract in 2025, although he did not secure a permanent spot on their active roster.
His time in Chicago carries additional importance because of his connection with Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. Reed spent time working in Doyle’s offensive system during the summer of 2025, giving him experience with terminology and concepts that could help accelerate his transition back into Baltimore’s quarterback room. That familiarity becomes especially valuable when a team must prepare for a Thursday night game with only a few days between contests.
Reed also played for the Dallas Renegades in the United Football League, where he led the league in passing during the 2025 season. His performance came during an emotionally challenging period for his family after his twin daughters were born prematurely. Reed continued pursuing his professional football career while his children faced serious medical challenges, a personal story that became one of the memorable narratives surrounding his preseason opportunity in Baltimore.
Ravens Release Fullback Lucas Scott to Create Practice Squad Opening
Baltimore’s decision to release Lucas Scott represents the corresponding roster move necessary to bring Reed back into the organization. Scott had returned to the Ravens’ practice squad on October 7 after previously spending time with the team during the offseason and preseason. The fullback originally joined Baltimore’s reserve/future roster in January before being waived during the team’s August roster reductions.
Scott’s release does not necessarily mean his time with the organization has permanently ended. NFL teams regularly adjust their practice squads to accommodate injuries, positional needs and upcoming opponents. However, Baltimore’s immediate need for quarterback insurance clearly outweighed its desire to maintain an additional fullback on the practice squad.
What Austin Reed’s Signing Means for Thursday Night Football
Baltimore’s short turnaround creates a difficult situation for its offensive coaching staff. The Ravens have only a few days to evaluate their injured quarterbacks, install a game plan and determine who will be available against Jacksonville. Bringing back Reed allows the coaching staff to spend less time introducing basic terminology and more time preparing its available quarterbacks for the opponent.
If Jackson cannot play, the Ravens would lose the dynamic dual-threat ability that makes their offense particularly dangerous. Huntley’s toe injury complicates the situation further because he would ordinarily provide experienced insurance behind Jackson. Fagnano and Reed offer alternatives, but neither has Jackson’s established NFL résumé or extensive experience directing Baltimore’s offense in meaningful regular-season situations.
Reed’s familiarity with Doyle could help the Ravens maintain some offensive continuity if he must dress for Thursday’s contest. His college background suggests he is comfortable operating a passing-oriented offense, while his preseason rushing touchdown showed some ability to create plays with his legs. Nevertheless, expecting him to immediately reproduce the production of Baltimore’s established quarterbacks would be unrealistic.
The Ravens Cannot Afford Another Offensive Setback
Baltimore’s 36-10 loss to Buffalo left the team at 4-4 through eight games, putting additional pressure on its remaining schedule. The Ravens entered November trailing Pittsburgh and Cincinnati in the AFC North standings, making every divisional and conference result increasingly important. A prolonged absence for Jackson could significantly complicate Baltimore’s effort to remain competitive in the playoff race.
The team’s offensive line, running backs and receivers may need to shoulder additional responsibility if Baltimore must start an inexperienced quarterback. Establishing a productive running game would help reduce difficult passing situations and allow the coaching staff to manage the offense more conservatively. Limiting turnovers will also be critical after Fagnano committed two against Buffalo.
Baltimore’s defense and special teams could become especially important if the offense enters Thursday’s contest without its normal starting quarterback. A strong defensive performance could provide shorter fields and reduce the number of points the offense must generate. The Ravens cannot assume they will receive the same explosive offensive production without Jackson, making complementary football a priority.
MSB Take: A Necessary Signing, but Baltimore’s Quarterback Situation Remains Concerning
The Ravens made a logical decision by bringing back Austin Reed, especially considering their limited preparation time before facing Jacksonville. Reed already knows members of the coaching staff, has worked within Baltimore’s offensive structure and demonstrated some playmaking ability during the preseason. His return is a practical depth move that gives the organization additional flexibility while Jackson and Huntley recover.
However, the bigger concern is that Baltimore suddenly finds itself vulnerable at the most important position in football. The loss to Buffalo demonstrated how quickly an offense can struggle when multiple quarterbacks suffer injuries during the same game. Reed offers insurance, but the Ravens should not mistake additional depth for a complete solution to their offensive uncertainty.
Fagnano deserves an opportunity to improve if Baltimore must rely on him again, particularly after being thrust into an extremely difficult situation against Buffalo. Reed also deserves credit for remaining prepared and earning another NFL opportunity after his unconventional professional journey. Both quarterbacks could benefit from an offensive approach emphasizing manageable throws, a productive running game and protection against costly turnovers.
Ultimately, Baltimore’s best path forward remains getting Jackson healthy without rushing him back before he is ready. The Ravens have too much invested in their franchise quarterback to allow a short-term roster emergency to dictate a potentially risky medical decision. Reed’s signing buys Baltimore some flexibility, but the health of Jackson and Huntley will determine how significant this move becomes.
For now, the Ravens have made their decision: Austin Reed is back in Baltimore, Lucas Scott is out, and the quarterback position will command considerable attention heading into Thursday Night Football.
