Ravens place QB Skylar Thompson on IR, add Austin Reed in corresponding move

The Baltimore Ravens have placed quarterback Skylar Thompson on injured reserve, a move that effectively ends his 2026 season before it begins. According to the team announcement reported by Pro Football Rumors, Thompson was put on IR on Wednesday with an undisclosed injury, removing him from active availability unless an injury settlement is reached and executed under league rules.

A corresponding roster move followed quickly. The Ravens signed free-agent quarterback Austin Reed to add a new depth option behind the starters. The transaction is part of a broader offseason push to stabilize quarterback depth as training camp approaches the period when rosters tighten.

For the Ravens, the immediate impact is straightforward: Thompson will not be available for practice or games while on IR, and his absence alters how the team can evaluate and protect its passing-game continuity in the weeks leading up to the season. Even with experienced backup play, losing a player to IR early reduces the margin for error if timing and chemistry with the second unit need more time.

The procedural note matters as well. Pro Football Rumors reported that, unless Baltimore releases Thompson with an injury settlement, he will be ineligible to play this season. That means the team’s current quarterback planning is likely built around the other players already on the roster plus the newly added Reed, rather than keeping Thompson as an early-season possibility.

The Thompson-to-IR decision also highlights how quickly roster construction can pivot at the most premium position in football. Quarterback injuries, particularly during late summer periods, force teams to decide whether to gamble on existing depth or to bring in a veteran or an experienced camp arm that can learn the offense on a tight timeline.

Austin Reed’s arrival, as described in the report, represents the Ravens’ answer to that problem. Adding a free agent in direct response to an IR placement suggests Baltimore wanted a ready-made option for quarterback reps and game planning, rather than relying solely on the existing two or three quarterbacks already under contract.

What to watch next is whether the Ravens further adjust their quarterback depth after Reed joins the group, including how the team structures the rotation for practice reps and preseason play. It will also be important to see whether Thompson’s situation changes during the injury-settlement window, since the report notes a release with settlement could theoretically change his season eligibility. Until then, Baltimore’s quarterback room will be operating without Thompson’s services for the 2026 campaign.