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Baltimore Ravens News & Rumors

Saints Sign K Brian Johnson Off Bears’ Practice Squad

October 12th, 2021 at 2:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following Cody Parkey‘s injury, the Saints will have a third kicker in three games. Brian Johnson looks set to succeed Aldrick Rosas and Parkey.

The Saints are signing Johnson off the Bears’ practice squad, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The team expressed interest in Ravens practice squad kicker Jake Verity, per NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill, but a Verity injury led the team to go with Johnson (Twitter link).

By rule, Johnson joining the Saints off the Bears’ P-squad will require his new team to carry him on its 53-man roster for at least three games. Parkey is now off New Orleans’ roster, having been placed on IR Monday. Parkey suffered a pulled groin during pregame warmups and struggled attempting to play through the injury.

A Virginia Tech alum, Johnson has not yet kicked in a regular-season NFL game. Johnson succeeded Joey Slye as the Hokies’ kicker, serving in that role with the ACC program from 2018-20. He made 20 0f 26 field goals as a senior. The Bears initially cut Johnson but kept him on their practice squad shortly after cutdown day. Although Wil Lutz is slated to return in the not-too-distant future, Johnson is set for an opportunity in New Orleans.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/12/21

October 12th, 2021 at 1:57pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s taxi squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

  • Signed: OL Austen Pleasants

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Ravens Activate WR Miles Boykin

October 11th, 2021 at 4:51pm CST by Ben Levine

Miles Boykin is back. The Ravens announced today that they’ve officially activated the wideout from injured reserve. The 24-year-old was designated to return in late September.

[RELATED: Ravens Designate Rashod Bateman, Miles Boykin For Return]

The 2019 third-round pick had appeared in all 32 regular season games (with 24 starts) for the Ravens between 2019 and 2020. The wideout hauled in 32 receptions for 464 yards and seven touchdowns through those two seasons, and he added another six receptions in three playoff games. Boykin was sidelined by a hamstring injury during training camp, leading to his IR stint.

Boykin will provide Lamar Jackson with another target, and he’ll join a depth chart that currently includes Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, James Proche II, Devin Duvernay, and Tylan Wallace.

The Ravens will presumably get additional reinforcement when first-round pick Rashod Bateman returns. The wideout was designated for return at the same time as Boykin, but his return will apparently be delayed.

Ravens Receiving Trade Interest On RBs

October 11th, 2021 at 8:58am CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens are receiving trade inquiries on their running backs, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. Their revamped backfield currently features second-year pro Ty’Son Williams plus veterans Latavius Murray, Devonta Freeman, and Le’Veon Bell. 

[RELATED: Ravens Elevate RB Le’Veon Bell]

The Ravens’ position group was decimated by injuries to J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill just before the start of the season. Now, their replacements are drawing interest from teams in advance of the November 2 trade deadline.

Through four games, the Ravens have averaged 164.5 rushing yards per contest, good for fourth in the league. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is responsible for much of their ground game success, but Williams has also impressed with 164 rushing yards and a touchdown off of 27 carries — good for a 6.1 ypc average. Freeman, in a much smaller sample of six attempts, has averaged 6.8 yards per tote. Meanwhile, Murray has three rushing TDs to lead the team.

They’ll all look to advance the Ravens to 4-1 tonight when they face the Colts in Baltimore.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/9/21

October 9th, 2021 at 4:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here is Week 5 Saturday’s minor move spree:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

  • Promoted: TE Shane Zylstra

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/4/21

October 4th, 2021 at 11:50am CST by Zachary Links

Today’s taxi squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

Ravens Elevate RB Le’Veon Bell

October 2nd, 2021 at 3:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Le’Veon Bell‘s Ravens debut could be coming soon. The team elevated the former All-Pro running back to its active roster Saturday, doing so while placing Derek Wolfe on IR.

Amid a brutal run of injuries at running back, the Ravens worked out Bell shortly before Week 1 and signed him to their practice squad. Baltimore promoted Devonta Freeman ahead of the ex-Steelers star but now will have Bell on its active roster as well in Week 4.

Bell joins Freeman, Ty’Son Williams and Latavius Murray on Baltimore’s 55-man Week 4 roster. Teams can dress up to 48 players each week. The Ravens have gone with a committee approach at running back, using Williams and Murray mostly. Freeman has seen sporadic work behind the team’s top duo.

To label Bell’s past three-plus years as underwhelming would be quite the understatement. Following Bell’s 2018 full-season holdout, the lucrative Jets deal he inked failed spectacularly. The Jets dropped Bell midway through last season. While the Chiefs picked him up, Bell saw scant action in the playoffs and was a healthy scratch for both the AFC championship game and Super Bowl LV. The Ravens extended the two-time All-Pro another chance, however, and Bell will likely soon begin his age-29 season.

Wolfe has not played this season and will miss his Denver homecoming game. The eight-year Broncos starter signed with the Ravens in 2020 and played in 14 games, but back and hip injuries have sidelined him since August. The veteran defensive lineman will be out through at least Week 6.

Baltimore also elevated tackle Andre Smith and cornerback Kevon Seymour from its practice squad, with Smith being named a COVID-19 roster replacement for Jaylon Ferguson, who will miss a second straight game after having tested positive. The Ravens did not activate receivers Rashod Bateman or Miles Boykin.

Ravens’ Lamar Jackson Returns To Practice

October 1st, 2021 at 11:08am CST by Zachary Links

Lamar Jackson returned to practice on Friday morning (Twitter link via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com). It’s a promising sign for the Ravens quarterback, who was absent on Wednesday and Thursday with a back injury.

[RELATED: Latest On Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley]

Jackson has been dealing with “a little back flare-up,” according to Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Fortunately, it sounds like he’s on track to face the Broncos this week. He’s never missed a game due to injury before, but he’s also taken a ton of tackles in 2021 — 44 hits, more than any other QB this year.

The Ravens, who allowed Jackson to take four sacks on Sunday, will need to fix that going forward. He’s always the lifeblood of the Baltimore offense, but his health is arguably more important than ever with J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards out. Through three games, Jackson leads the team with 251 rushing yards, good for fourth in the entire league.

Tyler Huntley will get the call if Jackson suffers any setbacks. But, as of this moment, it sounds like the 2019 MVP will be ready to face the 3-0 Broncos.

Latest On Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley

September 29th, 2021 at 12:03pm CST by Zachary Links

Ronnie Stanley could return in a matter of weeks. The Ravens left tackle will likely avoid surgery on his injured ankle as he continues his rehab protocol (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport).

[RELATED: Ravens Designate Bateman, Boykin For Return]

The All-Pro blocker returned from a previous ankle surgery only to be ruled out for Weeks 2 and 3. Stanley was outstanding in 2019, his last healthy year, earning First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Since then, he’s played in a total of seven regular season games (six last year, one this year).

In his stead, the Ravens have deployed Alejandro Villanueva at left tackle with Patrick Mekari manning the right side. Despite the absence of Stanley and several other key players, things have mostly worked out for the Ravens this year. After dropping the season opener to the Raiders, the Ravens have rebounded with back-to-back wins over the Chiefs and Lions.

Meanwhile, they’re also on the verge of getting wide receivers Rashod Bateman and Miles Boykin back in the lineup. Both players returned to practice on Wednesday, starting a 21-day window for their potential return.

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