Category: 53-man roster

Ravens release WR Russell Gage ahead of 53-man roster cutdown

Baltimore Ravens release WR Russell Gage ahead of 53-man roster cutdown

Russell Gage’s comeback story must come with a new team, as the former Buccaneers and Falcons wide receiver has been released ahead of Tuesday’s roster cutdown.

Gage signed a three-year, $30 million contract in March 2022 but only played 13 regular-season games in two years with the Buccaneers. He missed the entire 2023 season after suffering a torn patellar tendon last August.

Gage has 244 career receptions, 2,491 yards, and 14 touchdowns. During the 2022 season for the Buccaneers, he logged 51 catches, 426 yards, and five touchdowns.

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John Harbaugh says Ravens will dedicate 2024 season to Joe D’Alessandris and Jacoby Jones

John Harbaugh says the Baltimore Ravens will dedicate their 2024 season to Joe D’Alessandris and Jacoby Jones

The Baltimore Ravens are looking to get back to the Super Bowl and the organization will be motivated by the passing of two key members of the franchise.

The Ravens have seen Jacoby Jones and Joe D’Alessandris pass away this summer, and on Monday, head coach John Harbaugh made it clear that the team will dedicate this season to their memory.

D’Alessandris was hospitalized about 11 days ago and diagnosed with an acute illness. A 45-year coaching veteran, D’Alessandris had entered his eighth season as Baltimore’s offensive line coach. The Ravens hired George Warhop as interim coach. Warhop has 40 years of coaching experience, including 27 years in the NFL.

A New Orleans native, Jones was named first-team All-Pro in 2013 and helped Baltimore defeat the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. He returned a kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers for the longest play in Super Bowl history. He also became the first player to catch a touchdown and score on a return in the same Super Bowl.

Jones finished his career with 203 receptions for 2,733 yards and 14 touchdowns with 7,628 return yards and nine scores on special teams.

Jones played for the Texans from 2007 to 2011 before signing with the Ravens as a free agent after being released by the Texans in 2012, playing in Baltimore for three seasons.

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Report: Ravens waive WR Sean Ryan ahead of 53-man roster deadline

Baltimore Ravens waive Sean Ryan ahead of 53-man roster deadline

The Baltimore Ravens and 31 other teams have started trimming their rosters from 90 players to the NFL-mandated 53-man roster before Week 1.

After parting ways with Scotty Washington and Mike Rigerman, the Ravens are waiving wide receiver Sean Ryan.

Ryan is a second-year receiver out of Rutgers.

After signing as an undrafted free agent last year and spending the season on the team’s practice squad, and could get that designation again this summer.

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Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey must excel playing man coverage in Ravens’ pass defense

Baltimore Ravens defensive back Marlon Humphrey will greatly benefit from the emergence of rookie Nate Wiggins

 

Baltimore Ravens defensive back Marlon Humphrey will significantly benefit from the emergence of rookie Nate Wiggins. Contrary to popular belief, deploying Wiggins as the No. 1 defensive back on the depth chart allows Humphrey to be more dynamic.

Under defensive coordinator Zach Orr, the Ravens will bring the heat (blitz), so Humphrey’s health will be pivotal in passing defense.

Orr should consider allowing Humphrey to play as a slot defender to take away those quick reads opposing quarterbacks like to go to when they are under pressure.

Humphrey may have declined in acceleration because of injury, but he still has the wingspan and upper body strength to defend on underneath and intermediate routes.

Placing Humphrey as the slot defender also gives him help from the safety position on those sneaky seam and inside post routes.

Orr should allow Wiggins’s youth and agility to be an asset to the Ravens on the outside, especially early in the season against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ravens waive TE Mike Rigerman ahead of 53-man roster deadline

Baltimore Ravens waive Mike Rigerman ahead of 53-man roster deadline

The Ravens have started making roster cuts, and The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reports that undrafted rookie tight end Mike Rigerman has been waived.

Baltimore has about 35 or 36 more moves to make before the Tuesday deadline.

Baltimore has one of the NFL’s top tight end groups, and the team will likely roll with Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar.

Rigerman set school records with 1,807 yards and 21 touchdowns during his career at Findlay. He was the 2023 Great Midwest Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

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Ravens OC Todd Monken should not take preseason struggles lightly

There has been a consistent problem within the Baltimore Ravens offense through all three preseason. OC Todd Monken must adjust.

NFL fans always revert to the “it’s just the preseason” moniker when their favorite team gets blasted during an exhibition game. However, we’ve seen the same consistent problem within the Baltimore Ravens offense throughout all three preseason games. These problems directly relate to offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s execution and scheme.

Firstly, minimum targets have been made towards rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker, who still tends to have an injury. Secondly, countless turnovers on offense indicate that not everyone is in sync throughout the depth chart.

Through 180 total minutes of preseason football, the Ravens failed to produce a game score higher than 17 points and have averaged just 11 first downs per game. Meanwhile, their opponents have averaged 21 first downs a game versus them.

 

Again, it is endlessly presumptuous to assume that the Ravens will be the same defensive powerhouse from a season ago with key losses on their depth chart. This means their offense will need to be sharp, and we’ve seen everything but sharpness from the reserves, which should be feeding off the leadership of NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and company.

Neither the Green Bay Packers nor the Ravens starters were participatory, so that excuse doesn’t fit as a scapegoat. Monken is responsible for establishing a competitive spirit on offense so the team can carry over into the regular season. So far, things have been a struggle.

Ravens vs. Packers: Top photos from preseason finale at Lambeau Field

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field

It’s only the preseason, but the Ravens will head towards the 53-man roster cutdown date with a sour taste after a 30-7 loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field on Saturday afternoon. Josh Johnson was 5-7 for 71 yards and one passing touchdown, while Michael Pratt led Green Bay in passing, going 8-12 for 80 yards and one touchdown. The Packers were dominant on the ground, amassing 193 rushing yards, as Ellis Merriweather led all ball carriers with 16 yards for 74 yards. The Packers held the ball for nearly ten minutes longer than the Ravens and out-gained Baltimore by 326 yards to 177 for John Harbaugh’s bunch. With Baltimore now turning its attention toward the Chiefs, here’s an instant analysis of the loss. ***

Ravens waive injured tight end Scotty Washington

Baltimore Ravens waive injured tight end Scotty Washington

The Baltimore Ravens waived Scott Washington with an injury settlement after the tight end suffered a broken hand during the 13-12 preseason win over the Falcons.

Washington was fighting for a spot on the Ravens’ 53-man roster, but he had an uphill battle behind Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar.

Washington’s injury could provide one final opportunity for rookies Mike Rigerman and Riley Sharp ahead of the preseason finale.

Washington signed with the Bengals practice squad after going undrafted out of Wake Forest in 2020. After spending the first two seasons of his NFL career on Cincinnati’s practice squad, Washington was signed to the New England Patriots practice squad in 2022. His most recent stint was on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad during the 2023 season before signing with the Ravens before starting the playoffs.

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John Harbaugh discusses his approach to joint practices ahead of session with Packers

Baltimore will travel to Green Bay this summer to play their final preseason game and participate in one likely to be an intense joint practice session.

Baltimore will travel to Green Bay this week to play their final preseason game, and there will be added competition.

Green Bay had one joint practice with the Broncos in Denver, and the Packers will welcome the Ravens to Lambeau Field this week for a joint practice on Thursday, Aug. 22, prior to the preseason game between the two teams on Saturday, August 24.

Thursday will also mark the final open practice at the 2024 Packers Training Camp. On Monday, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh discussed his approach to the sessions.

Joint practice sessions are usually two-day affairs, but LaFleur said it becomes an “MMA fight” on the second day of joint practices, using last year with New England as an example.

For Baltimore, it’ll give Lamar Jackson one intense tune-up session against elite competition before the team kicks off the regular season in Kansas City against the Chiefs.

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John Harbaugh says Ravens are close to naming starting offensive line for Week 1

John Harbaugh says the Baltimore Ravens are close to naming starting offensive line for Week 1 vs. the Kansas City Chiefs

The Ravens are eight days away from trimming their roster down to a 53-man juggernaut, and with the season opener at Kansas City closing in, head coach John Harbaugh has an idea about his starting offensive line in this crucial season.

Following Monday’s efficient practice, Harbaugh told the media he’s closing in on his decision, but it’s likely already been decided.

Andrew Vorhees, the 2023 seventh-round pick out of Southern Cal who spent his entire rookie season on the non-football injury list as he recovered from a torn ACL, will start at left guard.  Daniel Faalele, a 2022 fourth-round pick trying to become this franchise’s Jordan Mailata, will start at right guard.

Veteran Patrick Mekari has split first-team reps with second-round rookie Roger Rosengarten throughout camp. Still, he’s probably better served being the sixth man and a guy who can play four or five positions.

Tyler Linderbaum will start at center, while Ravens rookie seventh-round pick Nick Samac should make the roster as his backup.

Josh Jones, Ben Cleveland, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, and Tashawn Manning should make the roster and give Baltimore a solid ten-man unit.

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