NFL2026-11-12Chargers at Ravens Monday Night Preview: Jacoby Brissett Debuts for Baltimore as Justin Herbert's Hand Clouds a Winless Los Angeles Offense
By Verdexed NFL Desk
Week 10 ends with two struggling teams in Baltimore. Jacoby Brissett is expected to make his first start for the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night against the winless Los Angeles Chargers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Baltimore traded for him after Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley both went on injured reserve. On the other side, Justin Herbert left Los Angeles' 44-22 loss to Houston with an injury to a finger on his left hand. Jim Harbaugh said afterward it could be more serious than first hoped.
Kickoff is 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN from M&T Bank Stadium. The Chargers are 0-8. The Ravens are 4-5 and have lost four straight. For fantasy managers, this game decides close matchups. For bettors, the question is whether a veteran quarterback is enough of an upgrade to justify Baltimore laying a field goal.
How both teams got here
Baltimore's season fell apart in one week. Jackson hurt the thumb on his throwing hand on the first offensive snap of a 36-10 loss to Buffalo on Nov. 1. He needs surgery and is on injured reserve. Coach Jesse Minter said the injury could end his season. Huntley suffered a season-ending turf toe injury in the same game. Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano then started Thursday night's 33-10 loss to Jacksonville, going 10 of 18 with two second-half interceptions as Baltimore managed 227 total yards.
The Chargers have a different problem. Herbert was sacked a career-high eight times by Houston and finished 13 of 23 for 193 yards and an interception before Harbaugh pulled him in the fourth quarter. Harbaugh said it was his decision even though Herbert wanted to stay in. Los Angeles did score its first touchdown since Week 5 in that game, on a 58-yard pass from Herbert to Quentin Johnston. Backup DJ Uiagalelei made his NFL debut in relief and threw a touchdown pass.
| Item | Chargers | Ravens |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 0-8 | 4-5 |
| Last game | Lost 44-22 to Houston | Lost 33-10 to Jacksonville |
| Expected starter | Herbert (reportedly expected to play) | Jacoby Brissett |
| Key absences | Herbert's left hand in question | Jackson (IR, thumb), Huntley (season over, toe) |
| Other injury notes | Herbert sacked eight times in Week 9 | Kyle Hamilton left Week 9 with a hip injury |
What Brissett changes
Brissett is not a star, but he is a big upgrade over a rookie making his first start. Arizona benched him for Gardner Minshew II last week, then sent him to Baltimore with a 2027 fifth-round pick for a 2027 fourth and a 2028 seventh, as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter. According to reports, the Cardinals are covering about half of his remaining 2026 salary. He signed a reworked one-year, $15.5 million deal in the offseason.
The trade could not be finalized in time for Thursday's game, so Brissett gets a full week of practice before his debut. That matters most for Derrick Henry. Henry had only 98 rushing yards across the two games before Thursday, and Baltimore had to use Wildcat snaps with Henry taking the direct snap against Jacksonville. A quarterback who can complete passes on time should stop defenses from loading the box against him. Zay Flowers benefits for the same reason. He posted 1,059 and 1,211 receiving yards over the last two seasons, and with Brissett he should go back to getting steady targets.
The Chargers' problem is up front
Even a healthy Herbert does not fix the Chargers' biggest issue. Eight sacks in one game says the offensive line is the problem, and Harbaugh acknowledged afterward that Houston did a much better job protecting its quarterback. Before Johnston's score, the Chargers had gone 37 straight offensive drives without a touchdown, per one report, and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has not found a way around the protection problems.
The running game shows the same problem. Omarion Hampton ran 13 times for 60 yards against Houston and was not targeted, with Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal each getting seven carries. Hampton got two carries inside the 10 and did not score on either. With the work split three ways behind a struggling line, none of these backs is a reliable fantasy start.
Fantasy plays
Derrick Henry: Start him as an RB2 with upside. Baltimore is favored at home against a team that has not won a game, so the Ravens should be running the ball late with a lead.
Zay Flowers: Start him as a WR2. Brissett is the best passer he has had since Jackson went down.
Ravens D/ST: They are a strong Monday night option. A defense facing a line that just gave up eight sacks, and possibly a backup quarterback, is a good streaming play, especially for managers who lost the Bears or Broncos defenses to byes. Kyle Hamilton's hip is worth checking on Friday's report, but the pass rush is the main reason to start them.
The Chargers: Bench Justin Herbert in one-quarterback leagues until he practices fully. If he plays, his non-throwing hand is less of a concern than the pass protection. Quentin Johnston and the other receivers are deep-league flexes only. Johnston's 58-yard touchdown shows his big-play ability, but this offense produces very few scoring drives and Herbert is working through a hand injury. Do not start Omarion Hampton in standard leagues either. Without targets and with two other backs taking carries, his outlook depends on scoring a touchdown.
Market context
The Ravens are favored by about a field goal, though the price varies by book. Dimers listed Baltimore at -3, while StatsNiper showed DraftKings at Baltimore -3.5. Moneylines were in the range of Baltimore -170 to -180 and Los Angeles +135 to +150. BetMGM's preview backed Baltimore at -3.5, but only if Henry and Hamilton play. The total opened at 38.5, the lowest number on the Week 10 board in early reporting from Covers and SI, and the numbers posted since then vary widely by book. Compare books before betting the total.
The Verdexed angle
Both offenses are limited by their offensive lines, so this game will likely be decided by the running game and turnovers more than by passing. Henry's volume, Flowers' targets and the Ravens' defense are the reliable plays. Everyone on the Chargers' offense is a risk. If Herbert is ruled out, adjust the total and the Chargers' team total down.
For the model's view of this game, see the Week 10 picks board and the game page at NFL predictions.
What's next
Herbert's practice participation this week is the key update. If he gets in a full practice with a protected hand, he is likely to start. Watch Kyle Hamilton's status on Baltimore's report as well. Because this is the final game of Week 10, managers who need points can choose between steady Ravens starters and higher-variance Chargers options, depending on whether they are protecting a lead or trying to come back.