Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta must have had an extra-large coffee this morning. After pulling off a trade for Pro Bowl pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue, DeCosta and the Ravens are set to sign former All-Pro wide receiver Dez Bryant to the practice squad, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Baltimore had brought Bryant in for a workout earlier this season but failed to sign him at that time. But with the Ravens’ offense struggling, ranking No. 31 in passing yards this season, it’s clear they needed the extra help. However, it’ll be interesting to see just how capable Bryant still is at nearly 32 years old.
In his prime, Bryant regularly topped 1,200 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns a season with the Dallas Cowboys. But Bryant hasn’t played a down of football in the regular season since 2017, his last year with the Cowboys. Coming off an Achilles injury in a very short stint with the New Orleans Saints, many are wondering just how much Bryant still has in the tank.
The Ravens don’t have much room to scoff, however. Beyond wide receiver Marquise Brown and tight end Mark Andrews, Baltimore isn’t getting much from their current roster of receivers. Second-year wide receiver Miles Boykin hasn’t lived up to his offseason hype. Bryant would be the ideal replacement for Boykin if healthy and still capable of beating defenders on the field.
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