Tag: Yannick Ngakoue

Patriots beat out AFC contender for former Pro Bowl defensive end

The Patriots weren’t the only team looking to land Yannick Ngakoue

The New England Patriots beat out the Cincinnati Bengals for pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue, per ESPN’s Field Yates.

The Patriots had priority on the waiver wire, and now, the former Pro Bowl defensive end is headed to New England.

Ngakoue has tallied 70.5 sacks in 10 NFL seasons. He started his career as a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has since bounced around on multiple teams with his most recent stop being with the Baltimore Ravens.

The Patriots need all of the help they can get on the defensive line. They had a big day against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, but there are better offenses with more formidable offensive lines coming up on the schedule.

At the very least, Ngakoue gives the Patriots another experienced playmaker up front. This could end up being a low-risk, high-reward pickup for a team that still needs a spark defensively.

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Former Raiders DE claimed off waivers by Patriots

DE Yanniick Ngakoue has been claimed off waivers by Patriots while his former team didn’t put in a claim.

This week the Raiders saw one of their former edge rushers hit the waiver wire, potentially giving them the chance to bring him back to bolster their pass rush.

Yannick Ngakoue was waived by the Ravens on Thursday, which means any team looking for a bit of pass rush could put a claim in on him. The New England Patriots were the team that landed him off waivers. And according to ESPN’s Tom Pelissero, the Raiders didn’t put in a claim.

Ngakoue was signed to a two-year deal by the Raiders back in 2021 and started 17 games for them that season, collecting ten sacks, which was his second best season in his ten NFL seasons.

Even still, the Raiders traded him to the Colts just after the new league year in March of the following offseason in exchange for CB Rock Ya Sin.

Ngakoue spent just one season with the Colts before signing a free agent deal with the Bears, where he also spent just one season. In fact, he hasn’t spent more than one season with a team since he came off his rookie contract with the Jaguars. Strange considering his 70.5 career sacks and the value the league places on pass rushers.

Patriots make surprising release to make room for new signing

The Patriots announced they have released linebacker Raekwon McMillan

The New England Patriots made a mildly surprising release as a corresponding move to the team claiming veteran defensive tackle Yannick Ngakoue off waivers on Friday.

They announced that they also released linebacker Raekwon McMillan, who signed with the team back in 2021.

McMillan has started in four games for the Patriots this season. He has played on 44 percent of the defensive snaps, but most of his work has come on special teams (78 percent).

His release is a bit of a surprise considering his versatility on defense and special teams. He was a plug-and-play veteran with the kind of versatility former coach Bill Belichick always valued on his rosters.

There’s hope that Ngakoue can help provide a spark as a veteran piece along the defensive front. The Patriots are missing both defensive tackle Christian Barmore and linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley. So Ngakoue seems like a solid low-risk, high-reward option.

Regardless of whether it’s defense or special teams, McMillan should have no issues landing on his feet outside of New England.

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Patriots reportedly claim former Pro Bowl DT off waivers

The Patriots have reportedly claimed former Pro Bowl DT Yannick Ngakoue

The New England Patriots have reportedly claimed former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Yannick Ngakoue off waivers on Friday, per the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed.

Ngakoue was waived by the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday. He’ll now join a Patriots roster that desperately needs help along the defensive front with defensive tackle Christian Barmore and linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley still sidelined.

Ngakoue has worked as a rotational piece for the Ravens this season. In five game appearances, he has five tackles, 1.5 sacks and four quarterback hits. The 29-year-old defender has seen better days as a playmaker, but he has still shown the ability to be productive in the right situation.

The Patriots are hopeful that Barmore will be back at some point in the season. Adding another veteran player like Ngakoue to the mix is a solid move for the team.

The best case scenario is Ngakoue being productive and becoming a legitimate contributor on offense. According to Kyed, the Patriots are inheriting $656,667 of Ngakoue’s remaining salary.

It’s a low-risk, high-reward move by the team.

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Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell to make his 2024 debut against the Bengals on TNF

Keaton Mitchell to be active for Ravens game vs. Bengals on Thursday

The Baltimore Ravens already have the thunder at running back, and Justice Hill is also solid in his role, but the lightning is set to hit the lineup just in time for a huge AFC North game against the Bengals.

After waiving Yannick Ngakoue, Baltimore is making Keaton Mitchell active for his first game action since tearing his ACL last January.

Barring any setbacks, Mitchell will make his regular-season debut Jeremy Fowler report.

Mitchell suffered a torn ACL in a 23-7 win over the Jaguars in Week 15 last season.

The undrafted rookie outplayed Melvin Gordon in the preseason last summer and was the most productive running back on the roster by the end of the season.

Mitchell was one of the highest-graded players on offense and finished his rookie year with 47 attempts, 396 yards, and two touchdowns in eight appearances with two starts.

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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 announce three roster moves ahead of Week 7 matchup vs. Buccaneers

Ravens sign Yannick Ngakoue to the 53-man roster, release Sala Aumavae-Laulu and release Damarion Williams from the practice squad.

The Ravens announced three roster moves ahead of their Monday night matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Baltimore officially signed Yannick Ngakoue to the 53-man roster.

The team also released offensive lineman Sala Aumavae-Laulu from the active roster and released Damarion Williams from the practice squad.

In two games with the Ravens as a practice squad elevation, Ngakoue has logged a sack and multiple pressures as an edge rusher.

Aumavae-Laulu has been active for two games this season but has not played any offensive snaps. The 2023 sixth-round pick out of Oregon was inactive for every game as a rookie.

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 announce two roster moves ahead of Week 6 matchup vs. Commanders

Ravens activated RB Rasheen Ali from injured reserve and activated Yannick Ngakoue from the practice squad ahead of matchup vs. Commanders

The Ravens announced two roster moves on Saturday. Rookie running back Rasheen Ali has been activated from injured reserve, and veteran defensive end Yannick Ngakoue has been elevated from the practice squad for the second straight game ahead of the matchup against the Washington Commanders.

Ali returned to practice on Oct. 3, and Head Coach John Harbaugh said Friday that the fifth-round pick had made steady progress after suffering a neck injury during the preseason. Ali will be available to contribute on special teams as the No. 3 back behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill.

Running back Chris Collier, who played 11 snaps on special teams in Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals, has reached the maximum three practice squad elevations for game days. To play for the Ravens again this season, Collier would need to sign to the 53-man roster.

Ngakoue played 11 snaps with one quarterback hit in his debut against the Bengals.

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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