Ravens lose starting quarterback to thumb injury

Lamar Jackson missed the opening drive for Baltimore.

The Ravens ruled their starting quarterback out on Sunday after he injured the thumb on his right hand.

The injury occurred during the team's first offensive snap against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, New York. Jackson was dropping back to throw to Zay Flowers when his right hand struck the arm of pass rusher Greg Rousseau. He could not complete his follow-through and immediately walked off the field.

Baltimore initially listed Jackson as questionable but changed his status to out before the first quarter ended. This marked his first start after missing three games with an ankle injury.

Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley entered the game but was also forced to exit early in the second quarter. He hurt his toe after being sacked by safety Cole Bishop and fumbling on a third-down play at the Baltimore 40 yard line. The team ruled him out before the third quarter.

Rookie Joe Fagnano, an undrafted player from Connecticut, made his NFL debut as the emergency backup. He completed his first two passes for 28 yards. The Ravens have gone 1-2 in Jackson's absence during a recent stretch, scoring 63 fewer points and averaging three fewer yards per play than in their first three games of the season.