Ravens QB Skylar Thompson Lands On IR

Unless the Ravens release Thompson with an injury settlement, he will be ineligible to play this season. Thompson signed with the Ravens in May to compete for a backup role, but he always looked unlikely to overtake Tyler Huntley for the No. 2 job behind Lamar Jackson. Thompson received no guaranteed money on his one-year, $1.15MM deal, whereas the Ravens gave Huntley $3.5MM in full guarantees on a one-year, $5MM pact.

Thompson, a 2022 seventh-rounder from Kansas State, spent his first three years in Miami. He made 10 appearances and three starts in the regular season as a member of the Dolphins, with whom he completed just 58.7% of passes and threw one touchdown against three interceptions.

Thompson is likely best known for starting a January 2023 wild-card game in Buffalo, where Miami turned to the then-rookie as injuries sidelined Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater. The Dolphins almost pulled an upset, losing 34-31, but Thompson went an ugly 18 of 45 for 220 yards, a TD and two picks.

After beating out Mike White to serve as the Dolphins’ No. 2 QB two years ago, Thompson settled for a reserve/futures deal with the Steelers in January 2025. Thompson endured plenty of adversity last year, as he went on IR with a hamstring injury in September. Later that month, during the Steelers’ Week 4 trip to Dublin, Ireland, Thompson was assaulted and robbed. The 29-year-old did not suffer serious injuries in that incident, but he never got into a game with the Steelers. Now dealing with another injury, it appears this will be a second straight lost season for Thompson.

Reed, who went undrafted out of Western Kentucky in 2024, had offseason stints with the Bears over his first two years. He became familiar in 2025 with Declan Doyle, then the Bears’ offensive coordinator and now the Ravens’ OC, but was unable to earn a roster spot.

Reed, 26, got back on the NFL radar as the starter for the UFL’s Dallas Renegades during the spring. Although Reed only completed 56.3% of attempts and threw a league-high nine INTs, he tossed a UFL-record 21 TDs and finished second to MVP Jack Plummer in passing yards (1,923). Reed is now one of four healthy QBs in Baltimore, which also has undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano behind Jackson and Huntley.