Ravens Claim Sammy Watkins, Duvernay Hurt at Practice
The Baltimore Ravens claimed wide receiver Sammy Watkins off waivers on Tuesday. Watkins was released by the Green Bay Packers on Monday. Watkins returns to the Ravens after spending last season with the team before departing for Green Bay in hopes of becoming the teams number one receiver.
Watkins time however with the Packers was disappointing as Watkins has played in only nine games catching 13 passes for 206 yards and no touchdowns. Watkins returns to the Ravens who are in desperate need of a receiver that can change the dynamic of games and improve upon a pass offense that currently ranks 27th in the NFL. In 13 games with the Ravens in 2021 Watkins got off to a hot start catching 18 passes for 292 yards in the first five weeks of the year, before fading down the stretch. In thirteen games as a Ravens Watkins finished the year with 27 receptions for 394 yards and one touchdown.
Watkins is already in game shape and could be thrust into the lineup after wide receiver and top return guy Devin Duvernay reportedly injured his foot at practice on Tuesday. In 14 games Duvernay has 44 receptions for 407 yards and three touchdowns. Duvernay has since been placed on injured reserve as the Ravens have now lost not only one of their best receivers but also their pro bowl kick and punt returner. Along with Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, Deshaun Jackson, and practice squad receiver Binjimen Victor, who has been elevated to the active roster once this season, will likely see an increase in their roles and production.
In other transactional news the Ravens signed former Raiders guard Josh Simpson. Simpson has started 21 games over his previous three seasons. The Ravens also signed former Bengals receiver Mike Thomas. Thomas was waived by the Bengals in November. The sixth-round draft pick in 2016 by the Rams, has 30 career catches for 366 yards and one touchdown. Practice squad guard Zack Johnson and outside linebacker Julian Stanford were released to make room for Thomas and Simpson.
The Ravens also designated inside linebacker Josh Ross to return from injured reserve. Ross had a strong preseason and was the only undrafted rookie to make the Ravens 53-man roster. Ross has not played since week two after suffering a foot injury that placed the Michigan product on injured reserve.
