In moving their roster to 53 players, the Ravens released a few vested veterans Tuesday. One of them will rejoin the team. The Ravens re-signed Pernell McPhee on Thursday.
The Ravens moving McPhee off their roster allowed them to avoid losing a non-vested veteran on the waiver wire, and after some Wednesday roster moves, the team will have the veteran pass rusher back. The Ravens placed both Miles Boykin and Rashod Bateman on IR, sidelining them until at least Week 4 but clearing two roster spots.
Baltimore re-signed McPhee this offseason, extending this lengthy partnership. A 2011 Ravens draftee, McPhee played four seasons in Baltimore and circled back to Maryland in 2019. He has played the past two seasons there. McPhee has recorded three sacks in each of the past two seasons in Don Martindale‘s 3-4 scheme. The 32-year-old defender started 13 games in 2020 but re-signed for barely the league minimum this year.
After letting more high-profile edge rushers walk in free agency, with Matt Judon signing with the Patriots and Yannick Ngakoue joining the Raiders, the Ravens prioritized keeping McPhee on the low-cost deal. He and Tyus Bowser re-signed this year, and they will team with new arrivals Justin Houston and first-round pick Odafe Oweh among Baltimore’s edge-rushing contingent this season.
Even at age 32 Pernell plays with the enthusiasm of a rookie. He has a great attitude and will do whatever is asked of him by a coach. Not at all surprised the Ravens want to hang on to him.