Yannick Ngakoue on rejoining Ravens: ‘It was meant for me to come back’

Yannick Ngakoue says he was meant to rejoin the Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens added some pass rush help by reuniting with veteran edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue.

Ngakoue previously spent part of the 2020 season with the Ravens after being traded to Baltimore before the trade deadline by the Minnesota Vikings. Ngakoue notched three sacks and two forced fumbles in nine games with the Ravens. After the former Maryland Terrapin’s stint with Baltimore did not go as planned, the two sides split the following offseason.

Ngakoue was asked if his previous stint with the Ravens soured him on the idea of coming back.

No, I believe in God, and I believe that everything happens for a reason, and it was meant for me to come back,Ngakoue said. “I went through peaks and valleys, just going [to] different spots and places, but I feel like, ultimately, it was meant for me to come back here to give my best football.

Ngakoue was later asked why he felt joining Baltimore was a good fit.

This is where I started from,Ngakoue said. “I’m a Maryland guy through and through – born and raised here. I love the locker room, [and] I love the guys here. We have a great quarterback, and I just want to be able to help get the ball back to the offense.

Ngakoue will join an outside linebacker unit of Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, David Ojabo, Tavius Robinson, and rookie Adisa Isaac if he is elevated from the practice squad to play on game day.

Ravens release LB Joe Evans from the Practice Squad

The Baltimore Ravens signed Yannick Ngakoue to the practice squad and released undrafted rookie pass rusher Joe Evans from the practice squad

The Joe Evans era in Baltimore could be over, as the Ravens released the undrafted free-agent pass rusher out of Iowa on Tuesday.

Baltimore made the move after signing Yannick Ngakoue to the practice squad in a subsequent move.

Evans had a strong preseason finale with two quarterback hits and became a fan favorite during a strong training camp.

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Ravens sign DE Yannick Ngakoue to the Practice Squad

The Ravens are always looking to add a pass rusher to the roster, and one day after defeating the Cowboys to avoid an 0-2 start, Baltimore is bringing back a familiar face. The team officially announced the signing defensive Yannick Ngakoue to the …

The Ravens are always looking to add a pass rusher to the roster, and one day after defeating the Cowboys to avoid an 0-2 start, Baltimore is bringing back a familiar face.

The team officially announced the signing defensive Yannick Ngakoue to the practice squad.

https://Twitter.com/Ravens/status/1838669792640634980

In October of 2020, the Vikings traded Ngakoue to the Ravens in exchange for a third-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick. In nine games that season, Ngakoue had three sacks, 11 tackles, and two forced fumbles during the regular season.

Ngakoue is coming off a disappointing season in Chicago—four sacks in 13 games—but could be another rotational piece in a pass rush unit anchored by Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy. Ngakoue could eventually take snaps set for Adisa Isaac and David Ojabo.

Ravens to sign DE Yannick Ngakoue

The Baltimore Ravens are signing pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue to a deal

The Ravens are always looking to add a pass rusher to the roster, and one day after defeating the Cowboys to avoid an 0-2 start, Baltimore is bringing back a familiar face.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Ravens are signing defensive Yannick Ngakoue to a deal.

Ngakoue is coming off a disappointing season in Chicago—four sacks in 13 games—but could be another rotational piece in a pass rush unit anchored by Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy. Ngakoue could eventually take snaps set for Adisa Isaac and David Ojabo.

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Report: Panthers to sign OLB Kemoko Turay

The Panthers are reportedly signing OLB Kemoko Turay.

In addition to clocking in their second session of training camp this summer, the Carolina Panthers got themselves a look at a few free-agent pass rushers on Thursday. But in a group highlighted by a very familiar name, it may be a lesser-known one that has come out with a roster spot.

According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, the Panthers will be signing outside linebacker Kemoko Turay following his workout from yesterday. The team also brought in Marquis Haynes Sr., who has spent each of his six NFL seasons in Carolina.

Turay, 6-foot-5 and 248 pounds, played his college ball at Rutgers University between 2014 and 2017. Those four years saw the Montclair, N.J. native record 15.5 sacks, with 7.5 coming in his Freshman All-American campaign.

He’d then be selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts, with whom he played for through the 2021 campaign. Turay, who has amassed 12.0 career sacks, since picked up brief stints with the San Francisco 49ers in 2022 and with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023.

The search for help off the edge, however, may not be over—as the Panthers are reportedly expected to host former Pro Bowler Yannick Ngakoue and Carl Lawson on Friday.

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Panthers reportedly hosting workout for OLB Marquis Haynes Sr. on Thursday

The Panthers are bringing in a familiar face on Thursday.

Yannick Ngakoue and Carl Lawson will have themselves some company in Charlotte. In fact, that company will be very familiar to the Carolina Panthers.

According to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer, the Panthers will be hosting outside linebacker Marquis Haynes Sr. for a workout on Thursday. Per Kaye, he will join fellow free-agent pass rushers Ngakoue and Lawson on the visit as the team continues their search for depth off the edge.

A two-time Second-team All-SEC selection at the University of Mississippi, Haynes Sr. was selected by the Panthers in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft. The Jacksonville, Fla. native has since gone on to spend each of his six pro campaigns with Carolina.

The best of those seasons came in 2022—when he posted career-highs in total tackles (29), sacks (5.0), quarterback hits (13) and passes defensed (four).

Haynes Sr. is currently one of five Panthers from the 2023 roster who remain unsigned.

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Report: Panthers to work out 2 veteran pass rushers this week

The Panthers are reportedly expected to work out a pair of veteran pass rushers, including a former Pro Bowler.

Some notable help may soon be on the way for the Carolina Panthers defense.

According to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer, the team is expected to work out veteran pass rushers Yannick Ngakoue and Carl Lawson this week. This development comes just days after the Panthers placed two of their outside linebackers, D.J. Wonnum (quad) and Amaré Barno (knee), on the active/physically unable to perform list to start training camp.

Ngakoue got his NFL start as a 2016 third-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who were also employing current Panthers defensive line coach Todd Wash as their defensive coordinator at the time. His four-year stint in Duval—which was highlighted by a Pro Bowl selection in 2017—resulted in 37.5 sacks, 14 forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions.

The Maryland product would go on to play for five different teams over the next four seasons—with stops for the Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears.

Lawson, a fourth-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017, has played six NFL campaigns. He’s amassed 27.0 sacks and 107 quarterback hits in 74 appearances.

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Dolphins to host Yannick Ngakoue for workout, per agent

Yannick Ngakoue will join Emmanuel Ogbah in auditioning to fill Shaq Barrett’s spot on the Dolphins’ roster.

Emmanuel Ogbah won’t be the only pass rusher auditioning for a contract with the Miami Dolphins on Monday. According to agent Drew Rosenhaus, his client Yannick Ngakoue will also be at the team’s facility in hopes of filling Shaquil Barrett’s spot on the roster.

Ngakoue, 29, has been a pass rushing mercenary who has been on six different teams since 2019. He burst on to the scene with the Jacksonville Jaguars, racking up 37.5 sacks and a trip to the Pro Bowl in his first four seasons. Since then, he’s tallied another 31.5 sacks in stints with the Vikings, Ravens, Raiders, Colts, and Bears over the last four years.

While run defense has never been a strength for Ngakoue, he’s started 115 of the 123 games he’s played in his career.

The Dolphins may be in need of a short-term starter with Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips set to begin training camp on the PUP list after season-ending injuries in 2023.

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8 free agents still on the market who could help the Steelers

It’s nearly June and the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the midst of OTAs. The Steelers have had a very strong free agency period and followed that up with one of the best NFL draft hauls in the league. However, even after all that, there are still …

It’s nearly June and the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the midst of OTAs. The Steelers have had a very strong free agency period and followed that up with one of the best NFL draft hauls in the league. However, even after all that, there are still positions on this roster that need help. Here are eight free agents still on the market who could help the Steelers.

Should the Bears re-sign EDGE Yannick Ngakoue?

Yannick Ngakoue looks to be recovered from his broken ankle. Should the Bears consider bringing him back to shore up the pass rush?

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the start of an exciting 2024 season with a roster stacked on offense, defense and special teams. But there is still one notable need: edge rusher.

While it’s good to have Pro Bowler Montez Sweat in place — something that wasn’t true at this time last year — there are still depth concerns behind Sweat and DeMarcus Walker. At this point, it certainly feels like general manager Ryan Poles could add a veteran before training camp. Could it be a familiar face in Yannick Ngakoue?

Unfortunately, Ngakoue’s 2023 season was cut short by an ankle injury in a Week 14 win over the Detroit Lions. Fast forward four months, and Ngakoue appears to be back healthy, as evidenced by a video he shared on X, formerly Twitter.

Should the Bears re-sign Ngakoue?

Chicago brought in Ngakoue on a one-year, $10.5 million deal last August. He went on to have the worst season of his career (with a career-low 4.0 sacks), although he benefited from the addition of Sweat.

Assuming the Bears are looking to shore up depth at defensive end, Ngakoue wouldn’t be a bad option. He already knows Matt Eberflus’ defense and was at his best opposite Sweat. But if a reunion is in the cards, the two sides would need to agree on a more team-friendly deal.