Category: 53-man roster

WATCH: First look at HBO’s Hard Knocks In-Season with the AFC North

HBO released the initial trailer for Hard Knocks In-Season with the AFC North featuring the Ravens, Bengals, Browns and Steelers

The AFC North is the most challenging division in the NFL. The season started with four potential 2024 playoff teams and tons of storylines. As HBO’s Hard Knocks takes an inside, in-season look at this historical division, fans will now have an up-close look.

For the first time since its debut, the award-winning docuseries goes behind the scenes of an entire NFL division for the first time. Warner Brothers Discovery made the announcement back in June.

HARD KNOCKS: IN SEASON WITH THE AFC NORTH will document the battle for the AFC North crown during the final six weeks of the NFL season, as well as a playoff run for the division-winner and any AFC North Wild Card teams. The 18-time Emmy®-winning series will deliver its signature all-access coverage as it follows the Mike Tomlin-coached Pittsburgh Steelers, who have never been featured on “Hard Knocks” in the history of the series, as well as coach John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens, coach Zac Taylor’s Cincinnati Bengals, and coach Kevin Stefanski’s Cleveland Browns. Quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson, and Justin Fields will share the “Hard Knocks” spotlight with Derrick Henry, Ja’Marr Chase, Myles Garrett, TJ Watt, and an array of other AFC North star players.

It will debut Tuesday, December 3, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and stream on Max. Subsequent Tuesdays will air through the end of the NFL regular season and continue into the NFL playoffs in January 2025. HBO released the first trailer on Tuesday, and it looks as intense as the action presents.

Baltimore was the first team featured on the original “Hard Knocks” training camp series 2001. Since then, the Bengals have appeared twice, in 2009 and 2013, and the Browns in 2018, while the Pittsburgh Steelers will be making their debut appearance. Storylines to watch will include Patrick Queen’s arrival in Pittsburgh and the renewed Steelers-Ravens rivalry.

Contract disputes in Cleveland, Deshaun Watson’s return and subsequent injury, Russell Wilson’s debut, Justin Field’s arrival, and Joe Burrow’s return are just the tip of the iceberg of storylines and interesting subplots.

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WATCH: Patrick Queen says he wasn’t wanted by Ravens and received no offer in free agency

New Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen says he wasn’t offered a deal by the Baltimore Ravens in free agency

The Ravens and Steelers are set for the first of two highly intense matchups, and Patrick Queen made Wednesday’s match even more intriguing.

Speaking to reporters about Sunday’s matchup and reflecting on free agency, Queen said that Baltimore didn’t offer him a new contract before he signed a three-year deal with Pittsburgh.

“I wasn’t wanted back. I didn’t get an offer back. It’s definitely kind of upsetting, being there for four years, the bond that you grow with your teammates. At the end of the day, the first few months, you definitely go through those feelings.”

The running mate for Roquan Smith, Queen made his first Pro Bowl this season after logging 125 tackles (78 solos) and matching a career-high with six passes defended. He also added 3.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery for the best defense in the league.

Queen is the only NFL defender to have produced at least 400 tackles (with 445), double-digit sacks (13.5), and double-digit takeaways (four interceptions and six fumble recoveries) since 2020.

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Top photos from the Ravens 35-34 win over the Bengals on Thursday Night Football

Top photos from the Ravens 35-34 win over the Bengals on Thursday Night Football

Underused pass catcher Tylan Wallace had three catches for 115 yards (38.3 avg) and one touchdown, including an 84-yard catch and run that resulted in Lamar Jackson’s longest touchdown pass of his career, as Baltimore held on for a 35-34 win at home on Thursday night. Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase almost spoiled the Purple Rising party, as the former LSU star logged 11 catches on 17 targets for 264 yards (26.4 average) and three touchdowns, with a long of 70 yards for a touchdown.

In another near-perfect performance, Jackson was 25-33 passing for 290 yards (8.8 avg), four touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 141.4 rating. His AFC North rival, Joe Burrow, did his part for the Bengals, hanging in the pocket as he went 34-56 passing for 428 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

The Ravens defense allowed 470 yards, as Cincinnati was 8-16 on third downs.   Baltimore was sloppy on the night, with 11 penalties for 81 yards.

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Kyle Hamilton injury vs. Bengals: Latest news on Ravens DB

Kyle Hamilton won’t return to the Baltmore Ravens game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals after suffering an ankle injury

The Ravens will play without Kyle Hamilton in the second half of Thursday night’s game against the Bengals.

Baltimore’s All-Pro safety suffered an ankle injury and has been ruled out for the second half.

After a brief stop in the blue medical tent, Hamilton limped into the locker room, where he slipped down with a non-contact leg injury.

Hamilton had four tackles and two passes defended in the first half, including knocking a Joe Burrow pass down at the line of scrimmage.

Ar’Darius Washington and Eddie Jackson will fill Hamilton’s void.

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Ravens waive Yannick Ngakoue ahead of Week 10 game vs. Bengals

Baltimore Ravens waive Yannick Ngakoue ahead of game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals and hope to re-sign him to the practice squad

With Keaton Mitchell set to return to the roster and Tavius Robinson showing vast improvement, the Ravens are waiving veteran pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue ahead of Thursday night’s AFC North game against the Bengals.

Adam Schefter reports that Baltimore hopes to re-sign Ngakoue to the practice squad.

A second-year pass rusher out of Ole Miss, Robinson has led the Ravens in pressures of the edge and has 2.5 sacks over the past two weeks.

Ngakoue has had one tackle and a half a sack since signing to the 53-man roster after spending three weeks on the practice squad. Baltimore released offensive lineman Sala Aumavae-Laulu to make room.

In two games with the Ravens as a practice squad elevation, Ngakoue boosted the pass rush, logging three pressures on just 13 snaps in the Ravens’ 30-23 victory over the Washington Commanders.

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Ravens HC John Harbaugh weighs in on banged up Baltimore defensive line

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh weighed in on the team’s banged up defensive line

The Baltimore Ravens picked up a huge win against the Denver Broncos in Week 9. They won the game by the final score of 41-10, and were in control for essentially the entire contest.

Baltimore earned the win while playing banged up on the interior of the defensive line. Head coach John Harbaugh talked about the group, saying they held up great and making sure to mention he’s proud of his guys.

“They held up great. Obviously ‘Madubeeks’ [Justin Madubuike], he led the group; he led the charge. But then you had two guys up off the practice squad – Chris Wormley and Josh Tupou. Those two guys, they stepped it up, and we’ve always thought those were quality players – really good football players. Hats off to those guys as well. Broderick Washington played very well also. [I’m] proud of those guys.”

The Ravens were missing Michael Pierce and Brent Urban, and had Travis Jones not play a single snap due to an injury. Multiple different players stepped up in Week 9, and the defensive line was one of many units to put up a quality-caliber effort.

Is Marcus Williams set to return to Ravens lineup for game vs. Broncos in Week 9?

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh says Marcus Williams will play vs. the Denver Broncos in Week 9

Whether it be a difference of opinion on a change in personnel, Marcus Williams was benched and a healthy scratch in Baltimore’s loss to the Browns in Week 8.

Williams played no snaps and, afterward, said all the right things about being ready when his number gets called again.

After the week’s final practice on Friday, head coach John Harbaugh confirmed that Williams would play on Sunday.

Williams’s struggles played a massive part in Baltimore, which had the worst pass defenses in the league, and Zach Orr made a change with the team in Cleveland facing the struggling Browns.

Entering Week 8, he was among the lowest-graded safeties in the NFL, allowing 16.3 yards per catch and a 143.9 passer rating allowed in coverage.

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Ravens star wide receiver returns to practice ahead of game vs. Browns in Week 8

Ravens star wide receiver Zay Flowers returns to practice ahead of game vs. Browns in Week 8

Zay Flowers missed the first two days of practice this week with an ankle injury, but the Ravens star pass catcher should be good to go for Sunday in Cleveland.

Flowers returned to practice on Friday and was a full participant with no limitations and plenty of dancing.

Marlon Humphrey was the only starter who did not practice, while Rasheen Ali and T.J. Tampa also missed practice and will be out for Sunday.

Ravens sign Yannick Ngakoue to active roster

Yannick Ngakoue seized the golden opportunity in front of him, and thus far, he’s made the most of it. 

Yannick Ngakoue was given a chance, these past two weeks, and he made the most of it. After getting signed to the Baltimore Ravens practice squad three weeks ago, the veteran pass rusher earned promotion to the gameday roster these past two weeks.

Now, according to a tweet by ESPN insider Adam Schefter, Ngakoue is getting promoted to the 53-man active roster.

In today’s NFL, you can never have enough depth in the pass rush, and Ngakoue absolutely earned this elevation. According to PFF, his 16 pass rushing snaps resulted in tallied one sack, one quarterback hit and two hurries.

This latest chapter in his NFL career perfectly embodies the motivational lyrics of “Lose Yourself,” the uplifting classic hip-hop tune by Eminem:

“Do not miss your chance to blow

This opportunity comes once in a lifetime.”

Ngakoue seized the golden opportunity in front of him, and thus far, he’s made the most of it.

Ravens activate DE Yannick Ngakoue for matchup vs. Bengals in Week 5

The Baltimore Ravens Ravens activate DE Yannick Ngakoue and RB Chris Collier for matchup vs. Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5

Looking to get even more pressure off the edge on Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens activated defensive end Yannick Ngakoue for Week 5 in Cincinnati.

Left guard Andrew Vorhees is questionable to play Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. After being limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, he was a full participant on Friday.

Sunday marks the third straight week that Collier has been called up from the practice squad, while Ngakoue will make his 2024 debut after signing with Baltimore before Week 4.

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