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Baltimore Ravens News & Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/30/23

September 30th, 2023 at 8:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s gameday elevations and other minor moves ahead of tomorrow’s slate of Week 4 games:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Walker’s elevation comes amidst a degree of uncertainty regarding Deshaun Watson‘s Sunday availability. The latter is dealing with a shoulder injury, but he has expressed confidence he will be able to suit up. In the event he is unable to play, though, Walker will provide insurance under center. NFL Network’s James Palmer reports Watson will be a game-time decision.

Chosen, formerly Robbie Anderson, made his Dolphins debut in Week 3, scoring a 68-yard touchdown on his only catch. His performance – along with other depth wideouts currently being sidelined for Miami – will give the 30-year-old a longer look with his new team.

Gore’s elevation will give him the chance to see regular season game action for the first time since 2021. The former UDFA recorded 361 scrimmage yards with the Chiefs that season, but a subsequent IR stint marked the end of his time in Kansas City. Gore has since spent time on the Saints’, and now Commanders’, taxi squads. Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post notes that fellow depth back Chris Rodriguez has bee ruled out with an illness, opening the door to Gore seeing limited snaps.

Ravens Place OLB David Ojabo On IR

September 30th, 2023 at 4:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

In a move which further explains the Kyle Van Noy addition, the Ravens announced on Saturday that edge rusher David Ojabo has been placed on injured reserve. The latter will be sidelined for at least four weeks as a result.

Ojabo picked up what the team has listed as a knee/ankle injury during their Week 3 loss, leaving his short-term availability in question. Today’s news means the ailment will require a multi-week recovery period, adding further to the 23-year-old’s injury history at the NFL level. Ojabo missed all but two regular season games and one playoff contest in his rookie season due to an Achilles tear suffered at Michigan’s 2022 Pro Day.

That injury led to Ojabo’s slide to the second round of the draft, but he flashed potential with a sack and a forced fumble in his limited action last year. The free agent departure of Justin Houston, coupled with Tyus Bowser‘s NFI designation to start the year, left the door open to signficant playing time in 2023. Ojabo had logged only a 38% snap share so far this season, but his absence will be acutely felt given the other injuries on the edge Baltimore is currently dealing with.

2021 first-rounder Odafe Oweh missed Week 3 with an ankle injury and it remains to be seen if he will be able to suit up tomorrow. With Bowser still sidelined for at least one more game, the Ravens will lean heavily on free agent addition Jadeveon Clowney, fourth-round rookie Tavius Robinson and former UDFA Jeremiah Moon for the time being. That will especially hold true now that Ojabo will be shut down until at least November.

Van Noy originally signed with the Ravens via their practice squad, but he has quickly been added to the active roster. With Ojabo sidelined, Van Noy will be in line for immediate playing time to begin his Baltimore tenure. The 32-year-old has been a consistent depth producer with three different AFC teams (Patriots, Dolphins, Chargers) recently, recording at least five sacks in five of the last six seasons. The Ravens will be hoping for a similar performance in 2023 as they remain thin on the edge for the time being.

Latest On Ravens’ Backfield Injuries

September 30th, 2023 at 10:28am CST by Ben Levine

The Ravens are dealing with injuries throughout their offense, with wideouts Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman having already been ruled out for tomorrow’s game against the Browns (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). While Baltimore’s receiving corps may be in doubt, the team did get some good news regarding their running back depth.

Justice Hill is expected to play on Sunday against Cleveland, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. A toe injury kept Hill off the field for last weekend’s loss to the Colts.

The Ravens were really forced to dig into their running back depth against Indy. J.K. Dobbins, of course, has been ruled out for the season, and with Hill missing the contest, the Ravens were expected to lean heavily on Gus Edwards. However, the veteran suffered a concussion during that contest, and the Ravens ended up giving Melvin Gordon and Kenyan Drake a combined 40 snaps.

While Fowler notes that Gordon is still expected to be called up from the practice squad for Baltimore’s Week 4 game, it sounds like the team should be able to roll with their top-two options at the position. Edwards returned to practice this week, an indication that he’s cleared concussion protocol and should be good to go for this weekend.

With Hill also expected back, it will be interesting to see how the Ravens divvy up the RB snaps. Hill outsnapped Edwards when the two played alongside each other in Week 2 (43 to 32), and Hill also got more snaps when Dobbins went down during Week 1.

Ravens Sign Kyle Van Noy To Active Roster

September 30th, 2023 at 9:33am CST by Ben Levine

After joining Baltimore’s practice squad earlier this week, Kyle Van Noy has already made his way to the active roster. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the Ravens have signed the veteran linebacker to the active roster, a move that “positions him to be on the roster for the remainder of the season.”

Despite adding Jadeveon Clowney to the mix, the Ravens were still in need of some reinforcement on the edge. After sitting out Week 3, 2021 first-rounder Odafe Oweh is questionable for Week 4 with an ankle injury. Further, 2022 second-rounder David Ojabo suffered an ankle/knee injury in Week 3 that landed him on this week’s injury report. With Tyus Bowser still sitting on the NFI list, the Ravens were down a whole rotation-worth of players, leading to the Van Noy addition.

The acquisition certainly provides some veteran know-how to the Ravens pass-rushing corps, with the 32-year-old collecting 33.5 sacks in 126 career games. After flaming out in Detroit, the former second-round pick found a home in New England. Across two stints with the organization, Van Noy collected 27 regular-season and postseason sacks for the Patriots. After earning a pair of Super Bowl rings during his time with New England, Van Noy was named to the Patriots’ All-2010s Team.

After returning to the Patriots for the 2021 campaign, Van Noy spent the 2022 season with the Chargers. He ended up getting into all 17 games for his new squad, compiling 46 tackles and five sacks.

Considering Baltimore’s injury issues on the edge, Van Noy should play a role for the Ravens as soon as this weekend. However, considering his lack of special teams snaps in recent years, it’s uncertain how the veteran will fill in once the Ravens return to full health.

Colts’ Jonathan Taylor Still Aiming To Be Traded; Ravens Not Interested?

September 27th, 2023 at 10:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts are coming close to the point when they will need to make a call on Jonathan Taylor. The former rushing champion can be activated from the reserve/PUP list next week, and he already could return to practice for the team.

While Taylor has shared a video of himself training at the Colts’ facility, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano notes the fourth-year running back has not changed his stance on playing for the team again. Taylor has sought a trade since July, and although the Colts halted talks before the deadline to set their initial 53-man roster, they have until Oct. 31 to unload him this year.

Just as Taylor wants a deal that leads him out of Indianapolis, Graziano adds the Colts have not adjusted their stance on an extension. Indy is not budging on that front, either. The Colts, who have the option of franchise-tagging Taylor in 2024, have not offered him a deal.

Zack Moss has fared well since returning from a broken arm, playing 98% of the team’s RB snaps in Week 2 and totaling 122 yards (on a career-high 30 carries) in the overtime win over the Ravens. While Taylor is undeniably better than Moss, this has not helped his cause or dispelled the notion that RBs can largely be easily replaced.

When the Colts engaged in trade talks in late August, doubt emerged about their desire to complete a deal. Jaylen Waddle surfacing in talks with the Dolphins sent up a red flag about the Colts’ true interest in moving on, and a Taylor path to Miami may be closing. The Dolphins just rushed for 350 yards in a historic decimation of the Broncos, and Mike McDaniel‘s team has received quality play from Raheem Mostert. De’Von Achane‘s first crack at regular work also produced a monster outing — 203 rushing yards, four touchdowns. Miami also has Jeff Wilson eligible to come off the PUP list next week, though it is uncertain if the ex-49er will be ready to do so. Summer’s top Taylor suitor does not seem to feature a need, having three backs tied to low-cost contracts.

The Ravens and Browns have lost their starters for the season. Cleveland also recently reunited with Kareem Hunt, potentially applying some heat on Baltimore to improve its situation. Barring a dramatic shift in their approach, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson notes the Ravens should not be considered an interested party. Injuries have forced Baltimore to add numerous veterans over the past few seasons — that list now includes Melvin Gordon and Kenyan Drake — but the team does not appear prepared to hand over a high draft choice and/or a lucrative extension for a running back. It no longer looks like the Colts are asking for a first-rounder to move Taylor, but there do not look to be many suitors.

Time may be running out for Taylor to continue his crusade. While the 2021 All-Pro has lobbied against playing for the Colts again, his options are limited. The Colts do not have to activate him from their PUP list next week, however, and the parties may continue to use the list as a way to keep trade talks alive. Taylor returning to a Colts team that has shown signs of life — after an abysmal 2022 — would be an important AFC South development, and an answer about his availability should be days away.

NFL Injury Updates: Carr, Kupp, Beckham

September 27th, 2023 at 9:10pm CST by Ely Allen

After taking a big shot to his throwing shoulder in a Week 3 loss to the Packers, Saints quarterback Derek Carr is reportedly unlikely to appear when New Orleans plays host to the Buccaneers this Sunday, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Backup quarterback Jameis Winston is set to start in his place.

Carr wasn’t necessarily struggling in his debut season playing for any team other than the Raiders, but he wasn’t striving either. After winning the first two games of the season, Carr was only averaging 266.5 passing yards per game with one touchdown and two interceptions. Protection had been a bit of an issue as he had been sacked four times in each of his first two starts with the Saints. This past weekend, that questionable protection led to the shoulder injury that’s expected to hold him out of this week’s game.

Winston will now, once again, take the reins of the Saints’ offense. Over four years with the team, Winston has appeared in 15 games: five coming off the bench and 10 as a starter. In his first season as a full-time starter in New Orleans, Winston started the season 5-2 while throwing 14 touchdowns and only three interceptions before a torn ACL would end his 2021 season early. Last year, Winston started three games despite reports of fractures in his back and went 1-2 with four touchdowns and five interceptions before spending the rest of the season as QB2 behind Andy Dalton.

Winston will get his chance to prove he can still be an effective starter in the NFL this weekend while Carr recovers. According to Nick Underhill of neworleans.football, no consideration has taken place in respect to moving hybrid tight end Taysom Hill to quarterback this week.

Here are some other injury updates from around the league:

  • ESPN’s Sarah Barshop provided an update today on the recovery timeline of Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp. She reported that head coach Sean McVay told the media that it is “the hope” that Kupp will be able to come off of injured reserve as soon as he is eligible to in Week 5. Kupp has missed the first three games of the season due to a hamstring injury and will have to miss this weekend, too, due to his stint on IR. McVay was hesitant to make any promises that might pigeonhole his All-Pro wideout, but the update is surely encouraging news for the Rams’ offense.
  • The injury woes will continue a little longer for Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. as ESPN’s Dan Graziano tells us that Beckham is likely to miss “another game or two” with the ankle injury that’s dogged him since the offseason. While Baltimore’s offense will have to do without Beckham, Graziano reports that running back Justice Hill has a chance to return this week from the toe injury that held him out of last week’s loss.

Ravens Sign LB Kyle Van Noy

September 27th, 2023 at 1:28pm CST by Adam La Rose

SEPTEMBER 27: The Ravens finalized this agreement Wednesday. Van Noy is officially part of Baltimore’s 16-man practice squad. This will be the veteran defender’s fifth NFL destination, coming after stays with the Lions, Patriots, Dolphins and Chargers.

SEPTEMBER 26, 1:24pm: This visit will produce a quick agreement. Van Noy is signing a practice squad deal with the Ravens, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson tweets. A two-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots, Van Noy has excelled in a hybrid capacity for most of his career. The off-ball linebacker/pass rusher has notched at least five sacks in five of the past six seasons.

This P-squad agreement seems likely to precede Van Noy moving up to Baltimore’s active roster. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds the deal is not quite done but notes mutual interest exists.

11:49am: For the second time this year, Kyle Van Noy is set to head to Baltimore ahead of a potential deal. The veteran edge rusher is visiting the Ravens today, reports Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Van Not met with the Ravens in July, signaling that a contract could be on the horizon. That would have come as little surprise, given the team’s lack of experience in the pass-rushing department. Even with Jadeveon Clowney now in the picture, though, the team is in need of depth along the edge.

Tyus Bowser remains on the NFI list, leaving Baltimore without a full-time starter. His absence has since been compounded by injuries picked up by 2021 first-rounder Odafe Oweh, who missed Week 3, and 2022 second-rounder David Ojabo, who exited that contest due to an ankle ailment. Given the team’s lack of healthy bodies at the moment, Van Noy would likely be able to see notable playing time right away if he were to sign.

The 32-year-old remained a consistent producer during his stint with the Chargers last season. Van Noy posted five sacks, adding 14 pressures, eight tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Having logged a 70% snap share, he proved a continued ability to handle a large defensive workload split between inside and outside linebacker. The Ravens’ ILB tandem of Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen is intact, however, so any Van Noy addition would see the latter used strictly in a pass-rushing capacity.

Pending the status of Oweh and Ojabo, the Ravens’ list of healthy edge rushers currently consists of Clowney, fourth-round rookie Tavius Robinson and former UDFA Jeremiah Moon. Van Noy, who has yet to take a known visit since his last Baltimore trek, would add considerable experience to that group while providing at least a depth presence when the team is at full health. With roughly $7.8MM in cap space, the Ravens should be able to afford a deal with the veteran on what would no doubt be a low-cost flier for the remainder of the campaign.

QB Notes: Jets, Jackson, Commanders

September 27th, 2023 at 12:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Out of football since the 2016 season, Colin Kaepernick continues to pursue a comeback. The exiled quarterback wrote a letter to Jets GM Joe Douglas asking for an opportunity to join the team’s practice squad. The letter, as shared by rapper J. Cole (Instagram link), lays out a number of reasons Kaepernick could assist the Jets while making it clear he would be a Zach Wilson contingency plan. Kaepernick cites his ability to offer the Jets’ defense a look at a mobile QB, referencing the advantage that could provide the unit given the dual-threat starters on the team’s schedule. The letter also includes Jim Harbaugh, John Harbaugh and Mark Davis being listed as references. While it is unusual to see a document like this surface, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk confirms it is authentic.

Davis’ team gave the 35-year-old QB a workout last summer, and the former 49ers starter questioned the Raiders preferring Jarrett Stidham and Nick Mullens — the team’s backups at the time — to him. Even though Kaepernick indicated he still trains five days a week for a potential comeback, the book is almost definitely closed for his return to the NFL. He would have profiled as a more realistic option during the late 2010s, but since the 2019 workout snafu in Atlanta, connections to teams have been sparse. Shortly after Aaron Rodgers‘ injury, Kaepernick’s agent contacted the Jets, and a subsequent report indicated no interest existed on the team’s part. The Jets have since signed Trevor Siemian to their P-squad.

Here is the latest from the QB landscape:

  • Siemian could dress for the Jets as an emergency third QB, provided he is elevated to the active roster ahead of Saturday’s deadline, but Robert Saleh confirmed (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini) the journeyman passer will not be active for Week 4. Wilson and Tim Boyle will be the team’s only active QBs for a third straight game. Siemian has made 30 career starts, including one for the Jets (Week 2, 2019), but could not beat out Jake Browning for the Bengals’ backup job during training camp.
  • It took the Ravens nearly 2 1/2 years to extend Lamar Jackson, but when the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts contract surfaced, GM Eric DeCosta made an earnest effort to finish the process. “We had just signed Odell [Beckham Jr.] and the Hurts deal came out. I thought to myself, ‘Why not try again?’” DeCosta said, via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec (subscription required). “We put some stuff together on paper. There were people who probably weren’t optimistic about our chances. How many players request a trade and then do a long-term deal with their team like a month later? It doesn’t happen very often, but I was optimistic, partly because I know Lamar. I had been with him in Florida. I know what he’s made of and I know what’s important to him.” DeCosta said he had not spoken to Jackson much this offseason, one in which the former MVP requested a trade. The Hurts deal continued to paint the Deshaun Watson fully guaranteed accord as an outlier. Long connected to seeking a fully guaranteed contract, Jackson accepted the Ravens’ offer and signed a five-year, $260MM deal — one that helped shape Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow‘s respective negotiations.
  • Eric Bieniemy going from Patrick Mahomes to a Commanders team planning to go with Sam Howell did not represent a deal-breaker for the five-year Chiefs OC. The new NFC East play-caller joined the Commanders in placing a second-round grade on the North Carolina prospect last year, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. A one-time first-round-level prospect prior to a statistical regression as a junior, Howell is off to an uneven start. QBR places the 2022 fifth-rounder 25th through three games, though he has shown some promise early in his QB1 run.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/26/23

September 26th, 2023 at 8:28pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Signed: S A.J. Finley

New England Patriots

  • Released: CB William Hooper

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Geron Christian is back in Houston for his second stint with the team, as the lineman started eight of his 14 appearances for the Texans in 2021. The former Washington third-round pick spent the 2022 campaign with the Chiefs, where he mostly played on special teams in his 10 games.

A pair of notable running backs found jobs today. Deon Jackson joined the Browns practice squad after getting cut by the Colts last week. The RB started Week 1 for Indy, and he ultimately finished his stint with the team having collected 504 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns in 27 games. Meanwhile, Jeremy McNichols is heading to San Francisco after having spent the past two seasons as one of Derrick Henry‘s backups. The former fifth-round pick got into 30 games between 2021 and 2022, collecting 655 yards from scrimmage.

Ravens Re-Sign QB Josh Johnson, Place WR Tylan Wallace On IR

September 25th, 2023 at 3:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

SEPTEMBER 25: To little surprise, the Ravens have brought back Johnson by re-signing him to the active roster, head coach John Harbaugh announced on Monday. Releasing the veteran was simply a case of roster gymnastics and a move which allowed a healthy option at another position to dress on Sunday.

The spot allowing Johnson to return to Baltimore was opened by wideout Tylan Wallace being placed on IR, per a team announcement. The latter has appeared in 29 games across three seasons with the Ravens, playing primarily on special teams. A hamstring injury will shut down the 24-year-old for at least the next four weeks, though, while the team looks to rebound from yesterday’s overtime loss.

SEPTEMBER 23: The Ravens’ backup quarterback situation has become clearer for the time being. Josh Johnson was released on Saturday, per a team announcement.

As a result of the move, only Tyler Huntley remains on the active roster to serve as QB2 behind Lamar Jackson. Johnson’s time in the organization may not be over, however. The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reports Baltimore’s preference would be to retain the latter via the practice squad. In any event, this marks the latest chapter in Johnson’s journeyman tour around pro football.

The 37-year-old signed with the Ravens this offseason, beginning his third stint with the franchise. Baltimore had attempted to add him last December, while Jackson was dealing with what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury. His latest pact brought Johnson – a veteran of the NFL, UFL, AAF and XFL – back to the Ravens and gave him a chance to win the backup job in the preseason.

Huntley had been dealing with a hamstring injury to start the year, so Johnson dressed as the backup for Weeks 1 and 2. Moving on from Johnson (at least temporarily) is a sign that Huntley, the Ravens’ starter for most of the end of 2022 in Jackson’s absence, including the team’s wild-card loss, is now fully healthy. The former UDFA will resume QB2 duties beginning tomorrow.

The Ravens released Anthony Brown (who made one start for them last season) earlier this month, leaving the team without a developmental passer on the taxi squad. That adds further to the likelihood Johnson will be brought back in the near future, though as a vested veteran he is not subject to waivers. Johnson is free to sign with any interested party, and 2022 saw the latest example of him leaving one team’s practice squad (Denver) to join another’s active roster with a greater chance of playing time (San Francisco). A repeat of that move could now take place in 2023, as the Ravens move forward with the familiar Jackson-Huntley pairing under center.

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