Ja’Kobi Lane Scores First Preseason TD as Ravens Beat Eagles, But Jay Higgins IV Exits with Concussion

The Baltimore Ravens opened their 2026 preseason in front of the home crowd at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday night, and it was a pair of rookies who stole the show. Wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane caught the Ravens’ first preseason touchdown of the year, while undrafted rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano delivered the throw, giving Baltimore a 7-0 lead over the Philadelphia Eagles at halftime and a 10-0 edge through three quarters.

Lane, a fifth-round pick out of USC selected with the No. 80 overall choice in April’s draft, entered training camp with buzz after a senior season in which he caught 49 passes for 745 yards and four touchdowns. That hype carried directly into his NFL debut. Lane opened his night with a 19-yard reception before hauling in a 16-yard touchdown from Fagnano in the second quarter, capping a five-play, 47-yard drive and finishing the first half with three catches for 38 yards and a score.

Fagnano-to-Lane Connection Highlights Rookie Class

The scoring play carried extra weight given who threw it. Fagnano, who went undrafted out of college this spring and signed a three-year deal with Baltimore in April, was competing for a depth spot behind Lamar Jackson before injuries reshuffled the quarterback room. With Skylar Thompson landing on injured reserve, Fagnano got extended run in the preseason opener and made the most of it, completing 11 of 14 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown in the first half alone, despite also throwing an interception.

Head coach John Harbaugh’s staff used the preseason opener to get early looks at players fighting for roster spots, and both Lane and Fagnano delivered performances that will carry into the next two exhibition games. The Ravens have now won nine of their last 15 preseason meetings with the Eagles, including Saturday’s contest, after Philadelphia won the previous matchup between the clubs, 16-13, at M&T Bank Stadium in 2024.

Higgins Exits with Concussion

Not every storyline from Baltimore’s night was positive. Rookie inside linebacker Jay Higgins IV left the game in the first half after suffering a concussion. Higgins recorded three tackles before exiting and will need to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol before he can return to practice or game action. Higgins had been competing for a reserve inside linebacker role and a spot on special teams, an area of need for Baltimore with several veteran defensive backs, including Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey, dealing with minor injuries of their own this camp.

If healthy, Higgins projects to provide depth behind Baltimore’s starting linebacker corps and contribute on special teams once the regular season begins. His timeline for clearing protocol remains unclear, but the Ravens are expected to monitor his status closely over the next two weeks of preseason.

What It Means Going Forward

Preseason openers rarely settle roster battles, but Lane’s debut gave the Ravens a legitimate reason for optimism at wide receiver, a position that has drawn scrutiny in Baltimore in recent years. Combined with Fagnano’s efficient outing under center, Saturday’s win over Philadelphia offered an early glimpse of two players who could factor into the Ravens’ plans well beyond the exhibition slate. Baltimore will look to build on the performance as it continues preseason play before finalizing its roster ahead of the regular season opener, when bettors will start weighing DraftKings promo code and FanDuel promo code offers for Ravens games. Fans in the state can also track legal sportsbook options through the Online Sportsbooks in Maryland guide as the regular season approaches.