Phoenix, Arizona: Cardinals Finalizing Trade of Quarterback Jacoby Brissett to the Ravens

The Arizona Cardinals are finalizing a trade that will send quarterback Jacoby Brissett to the Baltimore Ravens, ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday. The deal is expected to be completed this weekend. What Arizona receives in return has not been reported.

Why Baltimore needed a quarterback

Baltimore has lost its top two quarterbacks. Lamar Jackson has a thumb injury that will require surgery and may end his season. Backup Tyler "Snoop" Huntley has a turf toe injury that will end his season, sources told Schefter and Rapoport earlier on Wednesday. Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano will start Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars, with Kedon Slovis and Austin Reed, both acquired this week, behind him. The three have combined for no previous starts, 44 snaps and 23 passes attempted.

The Ravens are 4-4 and have lost three straight games to fall into last place in the AFC North. They have failed to score more than 13 points in three straight games for the first time since 2005.

A fast fall in Arizona

Brissett started Arizona's first eight games this season. On Sunday in Dallas, head coach Mike LaFleur benched him late in the third quarter, and Gardner Minshew led the Cardinals to a 33-30 overtime win over the Cowboys. On Monday, LaFleur named Minshew the starter moving forward, promoted rookie Carson Beck to the backup job and made Brissett the third quarterback. A source told ESPN that Brissett asked for a trade on Monday when LaFleur told him about the change. Talks with Baltimore began after Sunday's game and picked up on Tuesday afternoon.

LaFleur had little to say about the deal on Wednesday. "Out of respect for the process and just working to get stuff finalized, I really don't have much of a comment on it, but we're going to let the process play out with that," he said.

The numbers he leaves behind

Brissett had started the past 20 games for Arizona, dating to Week 6 of last season, after taking over from Kyler Murray. This season he completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 1,719 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Across two seasons with the Cardinals he threw for 5,085 yards and 33 touchdowns against 15 interceptions, completing 64.3 percent of his passes. He entered 2026 as the projected starter and held out for a reworked contract that guaranteed him $15.5 million this season.

In Baltimore, Brissett will work again with quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork, who held the same job in Arizona last season and also coached him with the Cleveland Browns in 2022. The trade cannot be finished in time for Thursday's game. Baltimore then gets an 11 day break, and Brissett is expected to be ready for the Monday night game against the Los Angeles Chargers on November 16. Arizona moves on with Minshew, who starts against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9.