Tag: Dez Bryant

Dez Bryant emotional about signing with Ravens

Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant got emotional on Twitter upon getting signed by the Baltimore Ravens.

NFL players typically don’t get a second chance to play the game they love after being out of football for years. But for wide receiver Dez Bryant, the Baltimore Ravens represent that chance.

The Ravens are set to sign Bryant to the practice squad with the hopes of getting him up to speed and on the field this season. Bring a Super Bowl hopeful at 5-1, Baltimore is even better than just another chance to play football again for Bryant, it’s an opportunity to finally win a championship — something many great players never get a chance to do.

Bryant was very candid about his emotions at the news, taking to Twitter.

For all the interesting things Bryant has done throughout his career and the image he once portrayed, you can’t help but to feel for him here. After moving on from the Cowboys, Bryant tore his Achilles in practice before ever playing a snap with the New Orleans Saints in 2018 and it looked like his career was over. Though there are no guarantees he’ll ever see the field for Baltimore, it’s a chance for him to prove he’s still got what it takes, both to everyone else and likely himself.

The Ravens got a chance to see him up close during two workouts — one this offseason and one over the last week. While it’s unclear just how capable Bryant still is as a receiver and how much he still has left in the tank as a player, Baltimore seems to be betting on Bryant being a little extra motivated to perform.

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Ravens finally sign WR Dez Bryant to practice squad

The Baltimore Ravens are hoping veteran WR Dez Bryant can provide a spark, adding him to the practice squad so he can get up to speed.

The Baltimore Ravens brought former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant in for two workouts but he’s finally on the team. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Ravens are finally set to sign Bryant to the practice squad.

Baltimore desperately needs help on offense after the first six games of the season. Though they’ve managed to put up a good number of points, everything with the offense has been wildly inconsistent on a drive-by-drive basis. It gets no more frustrating than with the passing attack, which has struggled despite having the reigning NFL MVP in Lamar Jackson under center. Baltimore currently ranks

Beyond tight end Mark Andrews and wide receiver Marquise Brown, the Ravens haven’t gotten much else from the rest of their pass catchers. While Baltimore could still look to add a weapon via trade before the NFL’s deadline, the hope is Bryant will be enough of a spark in his own right.

The aim of putting Bryant on the practice squad is to allow him some time to knock off any rust from not playing since 2017 and get him acclimated to Jackson. The move won’t eat up a valuable 53-man roster spot and is generally a low-risk signing at this point. If Bryant never comes around, the team can let him go without much trouble. If Bryant flourishes, he can either become a gameday inactive from the practice squad or get moved to the Ravens’ 53-man roster and get on the field in the second half of the season.

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Dez Bryant’s heartfelt reaction to joining Ravens practice squad

The former Cowboys great is getting a chance to return to the NFL in Baltimore.

Three years after making his last reception in a Dallas Cowboys uniform, 31-year-old wide receiver Dez Bryant is getting a chance to return to the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Ravens, who have been struggling in the passing game, are signing Bryant to their practice squad.

Bryant, who spent eight seasons with the Cowboys, last played in 2017. He finished that season with 69 receptions for 838 yards in 16 starts, which was his best year since a 1,320-yard year in 2014. In April of 2018, Bryant was released the Cowboys.

He signed with the Saints later that year, but suffered a devastating torn Achilles just two days after joining the team. Bryant has since been getting in shape for a possible return, and campaigned to join the Cowboys early this year.

Bryant had a workout with the Ravens in August, but went unsigned. Now, just a week before his 32nd birthday, Bryant is back in the NFL – and he couldn’t be happier.

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With DE, WR signings, Baltimore Ravens are strengthening team ahead of Week 8 Steelers matchup

The Ravens are using their shifted bye week to add strength to their front seven and rejuvenate a former Pro Bowl receiver.

While the Steelers got the shaft with an unnecessary Week 4 bye, the Baltimore Ravens were gifted a slight schedule shift that conveniently put their bye the week before the Steelers-Ravens tilt.

On Thursday, the Ravens got an injection on defense with Pro Bowl defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. While the trade is still pending, since he played just last week with the Minnesota Vikings, there’s no reason to think the trade won’t go through. Ngakoue has five sacks and two forced fumbles this season.

The Ravens also signed former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant to their practice squad on Thursday. Remember him? Now 31, the three-time Pro Bowler hasn’t played a down since 2017. Even then, he was three seasons removed from 1,000+ yard seasons and double-digit touchdowns. Nevertheless, with 838 yards and six touchdowns, Bryant was still productive in his final season with the Cowboys.

How nice of the NFL to help out the Ravens and only give a slap on the wrist to the Tennessee Titans for violating strict protocols set forth by the league.

Violations of the COVID-19 protocols included failure to wear masks, miscommunication on outside workouts, and not following distancing and mask regulations inside the facility.

Meanwhile, the Steelers have been following protocols, and they’re the ones forced to deal with the ramifications of the Titans’ violations. Hopefully, this will add even more fuel to Pittsburgh’s fire Sunday.

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AFC North watch: Ravens trade for Yannick Ngakoue, sign Dez Bryant to practice squad

The 5-1 Ravens are trying to stay ahead of the 4-2 Browns in the division and keep up with the unbeaten Steelers

Thursday was a busy one in Baltimore for Ravens GM Eric DeCosta. The Ravens reinforced the roster with a pair of high-profile roster additions to try and keep up with the Steelers and stay ahead of the Browns.

First, the Ravens pulled off a trade for Minnesota Vikings EDGE Yannick Ngakoue. Baltimore sent a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 conditional fifth-round pick to the 1-5 Vikings for Nkagoue. Minnesota had traded a second-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick of its own to Jacksonville less than two months ago for the 25-year-old pass rush specialist.

Ngakoue has five sacks in six games but has been a liability in run defense and has not generated as much pressure as hoped in Minnesota. The Vikings will eat most of his $12 million, one-year contract.

DeCosta wasn’t done. He agreed to sign wide receiver Dez Bryant to the team’s practice squad. Bryant’s signing is pending the wideout passing a physical and COVID-19 protocols.

Bryant hasn’t played since 2017, though the 31-year-old did audition for the Browns back in 2018. The very public mutual courtship ended without Bryant signing in Cleveland, or anywhere else since. Debilitating knee and foot injuries derailed his Pro Bowl career in Dallas. Now he gets another chance in Baltimore.

https://ravenswire.usatoday.com/2020/10/22/baltimore-ravens-sign-dez-bryant-practice-squad-workout/

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta after Yannick Ngakoue trade: ‘We are not finished building this team’

Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta hinted at even more moves coming following the team’s trade for Yannick Ngakoue.

Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta pulled off some midseason magic once again. After acquiring All-Pro cornerback Marcus Peters at the trade deadline last season, the Ravens traded for Pro Bowl pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue. Baltimore will be sending two draft picks to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for Ngakoue as they look to bolster their pass rush for a serious Super Bowl push.

But in all the excitement, some might not have realized DeCosta hinted at yet even more moves. In a statement following the Ngakoue trade, DeCosta insinuated he’s far from finished adding talent to the roster.

“We are excited to add Yannick Ngakoue to our football team,” DeCosta stated. “Yannick is someone who we are very familiar with going back to the draft process years ago. He is an exciting player and a dangerous pass rusher who makes us better. Yannick grew up here. He’s the type of person we welcome in our building. Finally, we are not finished building this team, as we continue to chase our ultimate goals.”

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DeCosta could have been hinting at the anticipated signing of wide receiver Dez Bryant to the practice squad pending a workout. Or, as some Ravens fans are hoping, there’s another trade right around the corner.

While Bryant could be the help DeCosta was talking about, there are rightfully questions as to how much he still has left in the tank. Bryant has been out of football since the 2017 season, is coming off a torn Achilles, and will be 32 years old within the next week. If signed to the practice squad as expected, Bryant would seemingly be more an insurance policy rather than a contributor.

Instead, DeCosta and the Ravens could be eyeing up help at tight end or wide receiver via trade. Baltimore traded away third tight end Hayden Hurst this offseason and haven’t gotten as much as expected out of second-year wide receiver Miles Boykin. With quarterback Lamar Jackson and the pass offense struggling this season, adding a capable and young wide receiver or tight end to the mix could rejuvenate the unit and get them back on track.

There are no specific rumblings going on right now but with DeCosta hinting at more to come, don’t be shocked if the Ravens continue to be buyers at the NFL trade deadline.

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Baltimore Ravens signing Dez Bryant to practice squad

The Baltimore Ravens are signing veteran WR Dez Bryant to their practice squad.

It seems like the time to get veteran wide receivers on the roster or in the organization.

There was news Wednesday the Seattle Seahawks are among the teams trying to sign Antonio Brown as his suspension concludes. And Thursday, the Baltimore Ravens dipped into the pool, signing former Dallas Cowboys first-rounder and star Dez Bryant to their practice squad.

Bryan has not played since 2017. He signed with the New Orleans Saints a year later after being dispatched by Dallas but tore his Achilles in one of his first practices.

Bryant, who played college ball at Oklahoma State, has 531 career receptions for 7,459 yards and 73 touchdowns.

Cowboys all-time TD catch leader Dez Bryant almost back in the NFL

Dez Bryant returns to the NFL after a two year hiatus and is expected to join the Baltimore Ravens practice squad.

All the work and preparation has finally paid off for free agent wide receiver and former Dallas Cowboy Dez Bryant as he set to sign with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad.

Bryant has been a free agent since being released by the New Orleans Saints in November of 2018 after he ruptured his achilles in his first practice after signing. Bryant was invited in for a work out by the Ravens in August of this year but left without a deal. The marriage was first hinted at by Josina Anderson today, and was confirmed by Ian Rapoport.

The two sides flirted back in August as well.

The Ravens will officially be Bryant’s third team in his career and joins an already high octane offense. Bryant has caught 73 touch downs in his career with the Cowboys and that currently still remains the current all-time record.

Eventually when Bryant is brought up to the 53-man roster, he will be catching passes from the 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. As a result of this, there will be plenty of opportunities for Bryant to once again, throw up the X.

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Cowboys all-time TD catch leader Dez Bryant almost back in the NFL

Dez Bryant returns to the NFL after a two year hiatus and is expected to join the Baltimore Ravens practice squad.

All the work and preparation has finally paid off for free agent wide receiver and former Dallas Cowboy Dez Bryant as he set to sign with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad.

Bryant has been a free agent since being released by the New Orleans Saints in November of 2018 after he ruptured his achilles in his first practice after signing. Bryant was invited in for a work out by the Ravens in August of this year but left without a deal. The marriage was first hinted at by Josina Anderson today, and was confirmed by Ian Rapoport.

The two sides flirted back in August as well.

The Ravens will officially be Bryant’s third team in his career and joins an already high octane offense. Bryant has caught 73 touch downs in his career with the Cowboys and that currently still remains the current all-time record.

Eventually when Bryant is brought up to the 53-man roster, he will be catching passes from the 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. As a result of this, there will be plenty of opportunities for Bryant to once again, throw up the X.

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Former Saints, Cowboys WR Dez Bryant planning to join Ravens practice squad

Former New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant is trying out for a spot on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad.

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There’s a little more work to be done before it’s all official, signed, and delivered, but longtime Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant is close to returning to football. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that Bryant is headed for a workout and physical with the Baltimore Ravens, a team he tried out for back in August. If all goes well, the Pro Bowl wide receiver plans to sign with Baltimore’s practice squad.

Bryant spent two days with the Saints back in 2018, unluckily tearing his Achilles tendon near the end of his second practice. He then went through a lengthy recovery and still hasn’t signed with another team. When the Saints put star wideout Michael Thomas on ice with an ankle sprain early this season, Bryant was not considered as a band-aid to help tide New Orleans over until their No. 1 receiver could return to action.

Whether he’ll eventually get on the field is not clear. The Ravens offense has plenty of receivers as it is, with six of them on the 53-man roster: starting trio Marquise Brown, Willie Snead, and Miles Boykin, with backups Devin Duvernay and James Proche (plus reserve Chris Moore). If Bryant joins the Ravens practice squad, he’d be lumped in with rookie receiver Jaylon Moore.

So he has quite a ways to go before climbing the depth chart. But it’s a chance at getting back on the field, and maybe fans will get to see him throw up his signature ‘X’ celebration again this year, someday. Let’s just hope it doesn’t happen against the Saints in Super Bowl LV.

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