Baltimore Ravens Terminate QB Contract

The Baltimore Ravens waived quarterback Austin Reed on Friday as they finalized a trade for veteran Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals, clearing a roster spot amid a crisis at the position, via the NFL transaction wire.

The move ends a short second stint in Baltimore for the 26-year-old undrafted free agent.

Reed had been signed to the practice squad on November 2 after injuries to Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley, then elevated to the 53-man roster on Thursday ahead of the team’s 33-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday Night Football.

He did not play in that game, serving as the backup to undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano, who started and completed 10 of 18 passes for 60 yards with two interceptions.

Jackson suffered a thumb injury that required surgery and landed him on injured reserve, while Huntley was placed on injured reserve with a turf toe injury that is expected to sideline him for the rest of the season.

The Ravens, now 4-5 and in the midst of a four-game losing streak, acquired Brissett and a 2027 fifth-round pick from Arizona in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 seventh-round selection.

Brissett, who had been benched by the Cardinals in favor of Gardner Minshew, is expected to start for Baltimore in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Reed first joined the Ravens in mid-August after Skylar Thompson went on injured reserve.

He appeared in all three preseason games, completing 6 of 12 passes for 59 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and adding a 14-yard rushing touchdown.

Reed was waived during final roster cuts in late August as the team opted to keep Fagnano as the third quarterback behind Jackson and Huntley. His return this week came out of necessity on a short week with no other healthy quarterbacks available.

Before Baltimore, Reed spent time on the Chicago Bears’ practice squad after going undrafted out of Western Kentucky in 2024.

He then started for the Dallas Renegades of the United Football League in 2026, where he threw for 1,923 yards and a league-leading 21 touchdowns.

With Brissett now on the roster, Reed is again subject to waivers.

Given his familiarity with the Ravens’ offense and his limited regular-season experience, he could draw interest from other teams seeking quarterback depth or potentially return to Baltimore’s practice squad.

For the Ravens, the focus shifts to integrating Brissett as they try to stabilize an offense that has struggled without Jackson.