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Brent Urban

Ravens To Re-Sign DE Brent Urban

March 13th, 2024 at 6:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

Brent Urban returned to the Ravens in 2022 after playing out his rookie contract with the team. The veteran defensive end will be remaining in Baltimore for 2024.

Urban has agreed to a new Ravens deal, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports. The 32-year-old Canadian has been playing on one-year deals every season since 2018, so it would come as no surprise if that turned out to be the case once again this time around. Urban will be in line to maintain his rotational role with Baltimore moving forward.

The former fourth-rounder served as a full-time starter in 2018, the final year of his first stint in Charm City. That led him to brief tenures with the Titans, Bears and Cowboys from 2019-21. Upon re-joining the Ravens, though, Urban has seen defensive snap shares of 29% and 24%, a slightly lower workload than he saw with Chicago and Dallas. Instead of searching out a starting gig, he has elected to play out a seventh season (and eighth year in total) as a Raven.

The Virginia alum missed his rookie year due to injury, but he has proven to be a capable run-stopping D-lineman since then. Urban has totaled 43 tackles – including seven for a loss – over the past two years. As part of Baltimore’s league-leading defense (in terms of sacks), he chipped in with a career-high three in that department last year. Even without a repeat of that figure, Urban will be a valued part of Baltimore’s defensive front.

The Ravens’ edge room has a number of questions marks at the moment, but the team’s defensive interior is on track to look largely the same in 2024. Justin Madubuike was kept off the market via the franchise tag, and he has since signed a massive new deal. He, along with Michael Pierce, Broderick Washington and Travis Jones are on the books for 2024. The same is now true of Urban.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/31/23

August 31st, 2023 at 8:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Following a busy roster deadline day on Tuesday, teams continue to reshuffle their rosters. Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

  • Placed on IR: TE Stephen Sullivan

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

New York Giants

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

The Ravens brought back a trio of veterans to their 53-man roster. Brent Urban is probably destined for the biggest role, with the veteran lineman serving as the top backup to Broderick Washington at defensive end. Urban got into 16 games for Baltimore last season, collecting 21 tackles and one sack. Veteran QB Josh Johnson will slide behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley on the depth chart, and Kevon Seymour will continue his role as a key special teamer.

The Cardinals are temporarily losing some production with offensive lineman Dennis Daley and linebacker Myjai Sanders being placed on IR. Daley joined the Cardinals on a two-year deal this offseason after starting 15 of his 17 appearances for the Titans in 2022. Sanders had a productive rookie campaign, with the third-round pick collecting 23 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble.

Julian Okwara has turned into a productive pass-rushing option in Detroit. The former third-round pick has collected seven sacks over the past two seasons, but he’ll now be sidelined for the start of the season while recovering from a knee injury suffered during in the preseason finale.

Ravens Set 53-Man Roster

August 29th, 2023 at 10:25pm CST by Ely Allen

The Ravens did a bit of work in the days leading up to the roster cut deadline, including the announced release of veteran running back Melvin Gordon. Still, there was a bit of work left to be done today. Here’s the remaining moves Baltimore made in order to get down to 53 players:

Waived:

Released:

The most surprising moves here come at cornerback. Especially with the recent injury trouble facing star corner Marlon Humphrey, the Ravens choice to not only cut two reliable backups in Seymour and Worley but also to waive the fifth-round rookie draft pick Kelly is shocking. The team did reinforce with several free agent veterans like Rock Ya-Sin, Ronald Darby, and Arthur Maulet, and they’re hoping to see strong seasons from second year cornerbacks Damarion Williams and Jalyn Armour-Davis, both of whom were limited in their rookie seasons due to injury. Look for them to attempt to retain Seymour and Worley on the practice squad. Kelly will have to clear waivers in order to return, a tough ask for a fifth-round talent. Williams is expected to be placed on injured reserve following the deadline, opening a door for Worley or Seymour to return to the active roster.

Brown and Johnson put forth valiant efforts throughout the preseason, essentially allowing starting quarterback Lamar Jackson and primary backup Tyler Huntley to escape the preseason without really being touched. Unfortunately, neither made a strong enough case to remain on the regular season roster. Brown is surely a candidate to return to the practice squad, if he clears waivers.

Baltimore’s tradition of scouting undrafted talent continued this year as the team saw two free agent rookies make the initial 53-man roster. Former East Carolina running back Keaton Mitchell gave some strong impressions that helped him beat out Gordon and fellow undrafted signee Wright. Malik Hamm, Lafayette’s all-time sack leader, makes the team behind as of yet unproven pass rushers Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo, veteran Jadeveon Clowney, and fellow rookie Tavius Robinson, a fourth-round pick out of Ole Miss.

Outside linebacker Tyus Bowser remains on the non-football injury list to start the season alongside long snapper Nick Moore, rookie guard Andrew Vorhees, and cornerback Trayvon Mullen. He’ll miss at least the first four games of the season.

Ravens Re-Sign Brent Urban, Daryl Worley

February 15th, 2023 at 3:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two Ravens role players remain in the organization’s plans. The team re-signed both Brent Urban and Daryl Worley on Wednesday. Both were on one-year deals in 2022.

Both journeymen found their way to Baltimore last year, with Urban a 2014 Ravens draftee who had been elsewhere from 2019-21. Each re-signed on one-year deals in 2022, and it should be expected Wednesday’s pacts match that duration.

Urban, 31, played a bigger role for the 2022 Ravens, seeing action on 29% of Baltimore’s defensive snaps. Urban joined Michael Pierce as a defensive lineman who returned to the Ravens after seasons away and will now join Calais Campbell among 30-something D-linemen to return to the team. Campbell recently announced he was coming back.

The Ravens used Urban as a full-time starter during his initial contract year, back in 2018, but let him walk in free agency. Urban moved on to the Titans but caught on with the Bears and Cowboys in between Baltimore stays. Last season, Urban forced three fumbles, registered a sack and two tackles for loss. He will be in line to compete for a depth role again.

Worley, 27, flooded the transaction wire last year, signing with the Ravens in August and bouncing on and off their practice squad on a near-weekly basis. The Ravens used the veteran more as a special-teamer. In the eight games he played, the seventh-year veteran saw action on 41% of the Ravens’ ST plays last season. Worley started the team’s season finale against the Bengals, however.

The Ravens are Worley’s eighth team. The former Panthers third-round pick has also stopped by for stints with the Eagles (non-regular-season stopover), Raiders, Bills, Cowboys, Cardinals and Lions.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC North

August 31st, 2022 at 3:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bengals, Browns, Ravens and Steelers moves are noted below.

Here are Wednesday’s AFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.

Baltimore Ravens

Signed:

Claimed:

Waived:

Placed on IR:

Signed to practice squad:

Cincinnati Bengals

Claimed:

Released:

Waived:

Placed on IR:

Signed to practice squad:

Cleveland Browns

Claimed: 

Released:

Signed to practice squad:

Pittsburgh Steelers

Ravens Drop Roster To 53

August 30th, 2022 at 5:03pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Ravens have confirmed their final roster cuts, bringing the squad to the league-mandated 53-man limit. Like many teams, they are releasing a number of vested veterans with the intention of keeping them in the fold in the coming days, once other necessary moves have been made. Here is the list of Baltimore’s departures:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Released:

Badie might be the most surprising inclusion on the list. The sixth-round rookie led the SEC in rushing yards last year, but the team has had a crowded RB room throughout the offseason. Badie was though to be in competition with veteran Mike Davis for the No. 3 spot. Another notable name is soon to be added to the mix in the form of Kenyan Drake, though. Badie would, considering his age, represent a practice squad priority should he clear waivers.

Hayes was a fifth-round pick last season, but was limited to one appearance as a rookie. That extended absence, coupled with his relative lack of college production, could make him another practice squad candidate. Still, his inclusion – along with that of Means – is noteworthy given the team’s lack of depth in the edge rush department. Either of them departing to another roster could make the position even more of a priority than it is now.

Like Jefferson, Urban was named in the build-up to today’s deadline as a likely veteran to be released temporarily, while having a handshake agreement in place to return later in the week. The Canadian began his career in Baltimore, and returned this offseason as one of many changes the team has made along the defensive line.

Ravens Reunite With DL Urban

May 20th, 2022 at 9:57pm CST by Ely Allen

A late report this Friday evening, Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network tweeted that defensive lineman Brent Urban will rejoin the team that drafted him, crediting Urban’s wife in the report. Urban reportedly agreed to a one-year deal to return to Baltimore. 

Urban was drafted by the Ravens in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Virginia. Due to a torn ACL, followed by a torn bicep, Urban didn’t make his NFL debut until Week 12 of his sophomore season, blocking a potential game-winning field goal that was returned by teammate Will Hill for a game-winning touchdown as time expired.

Urban earned the starting job at right defensive end to begin his third season, but a Lisfranc foot injury sidelined him for the season after only three games. In his contract year, Urban finally got to play an entire healthy season, starting every game of the year for Baltimore.

The next season, Urban followed defensive coordinator Dean Pees from Baltimore to Tennessee, signing with the Titans. After four games of backup duty, he was released but promptly picked up by the Bears, who needed to replace injured defensive end Akiem Hicks. Chicago re-signed Urban for another year, in which he earned eight starts filling in for another injured-Bear, Roy Robertson-Harris. Last year, Urban signed with the Cowboys starting four of the six games he appeared in before once again being placed on injured reserve in late October.

Urban will have to work to earn a roster spot in Baltimore. On the interior, Baltimore re-signed Calais Campbell and brought back another former-Raven in Michael Pierce. They also drafted Travis Jones who is expected to compete as a rookie for playing time with other recent draft picks Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington. At defensive end, Baltimore will utilize Odafe Oweh and Jaylon Ferguson to rush the passer. Derek Wolfe is on roster as a plus run-defender.

Baltimore mixes up the defensive alignments, with Campbell lining up all over the line and pass rushers like Oweh, Ferguson, and linebacker Tyus Bowser alternating between standing up and putting a hand in the dirt. The lack of options on the outside of the line could provide Urban an opportunity to stake his claim to a roster-spot next season.

Urban’s unfortunate injury-history is a potential red-flag for the deal, especially after Baltimore watched a hip injury sideline Wolfe for the entire 2022 NFL season. Wolfe and Urban will play similar roles on the Ravens’ defense, so the addition of Urban may serve both players to share playing time and not put too much of a load on the recovering linemen.

Cowboys, DL Brent Urban Agree To Deal

March 18th, 2021 at 2:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Veteran defensive lineman Brent Urban will head to Dallas. The seven-year vet agreed to terms on a one-year Cowboys contract, according Kate Urban (Brent’s wife), on Twitter.

Urban most recently played for the Bears, suiting up in all 16 games for the playoff-qualifying team last season. He has also played for the Ravens and Titans.

A former Ravens fourth-round pick, Urban spent five seasons in Baltimore. He worked as a 16-game starter for the playoff-bound 2018 Ravens squad but saw the Titans blunt that momentum by releasing him midway through the 2019 season. The Bears provided a bounce-back opportunity, however, scooping him up soon after and then re-signing him during the 2020 free agency period.

Last season, the 29-year-old D-lineman registered 2.5 sacks and made eight starts for a Bears defense that ranked in the top 10 in DVOA. Urban played 35% of Chicago’s defensive snaps last season and figures to be a rotational option for a Cowboys defense in need of extensive help after a brutal 2020 outing.

Bears To Re-Sign DL Brent Urban

March 23rd, 2020 at 7:15pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bears have agreed to re-sign free agent defensive end Brent Urban to a one-year deal, according to what Pro Football Rumors considers to be a very reliable source….Urban’s wife Kate (Twitter link).

Urban, 28, spent the first five seasons and 41 games of his career with the Ravens after being selected in the fourth round of the 2013 draft. A 16-game starter in 2018, Urban inked a deal with the Titans last spring, but was cut midway through the season. He quickly latched on with the Bears, where he appeared in nine games and played 183 defensive snaps.

Urban has spent the entirety of his career in a 3-4 scheme, so he’s surely ready for another go-round in Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano‘s front. He’ll compete with Roy Robertson-Harris ans Bilal Nichols for playing time alongside Chicago defensive line stalwart Akiem Hicks.

Bears To Sign DL Brent Urban

October 21st, 2019 at 3:48pm CST by Marc Delucchi

Brent Urban has agreed to terms with the Bears, according to his agent (on Twitter).The news comes just two days after the Titans released Urban.

Prior to this season, Urban spent five years with the Ravens. A fourth-round pick out of Virginia, Urban became just the 26th Canadian ever selected in the NFL draft. It took some time for him to make his NFL debut. An ACL tear kept him out of action for the entirety of his rookie season and a torn bicep cost him a large chunk of 2015 as well.

Once healthy, Urban slowly worked himself into Baltimore’s rotation. In 2018, Urban started all 16 games for the Ravens, recording 27 tackles before becoming a free agent. He signed with the Titans this offseason but failed to record a statistic in four appearances and was released on Friday. Now, he will look to add some depth to the Bears front seven.

The Bears have stalwart defensive end Akiem Hicks on IR presently. They will see if Urban can help in the meantime.

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