Ravens roster move roundup ahead of Indianapolis game

The Baltimore Ravens had a busy Saturday afternoon 24 hours away from the time they are slated to kick off their Week Nine AFC matchup with the Indianapolis Professional Football Team on the road at Lucas Oil Stadium on CBS at 1 PM eastern standard time.

Here’s a brief breakdown of every move that transpired:

Reserve/COVID-19 List activations-

The biggest question mark for the Ravens heading into this game was the availability of six of the remaining seven players that they placed on the Reserve COVID-19 List earlier this week after starting cornerback Marlon Humphrey tested positive on Monday.

Head coach John Harbaugh told reporters on Friday that he and the organization were optimistic about having all but Humphrey available for Sunday’s game.

 On Saturday morning their optimism was rewarded when they were able to activate cornerback Terrell Bonds, safety DeShon Elliott, outside linebacker Tyus Bowser and inside linebackers Patrick Queen, Malik Harrison, and L.J. Fort.

Every player who was activated from the list will suit up against Indianapolis this week except Fort who was ruled out with a finger injury.

The veteran linebacker will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by either the rookie Harrison or third-year pro Chris Board or maybe a rotation of both.

Permanent practice squad promotions-

The good news kept rolling in for Bonds after he was activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 List. He and undrafted rookie inside linebacker Kristian Welch were signed to the active 53-man roster from the practice squad.

Both players were out of practice squad call-ups after having their two permitted temporary promotions exhausted earlier this season.

While both players are expected to be very active on special teams as they were in their previous game action, Bonds will have a larger role in the defense of the two with Humphrey out this week.

He and undrafted rookie cornerback Khalil Dorsey will likely serve as the primary nickelbacks and play primarily in the slot on Sunday with veterans Jimmy Smith and Marcus Peters starting on the outside.

WR/RS Chris Moore placed on IR-

To make room for Welch on the active 53-man roster, the Ravens placed veteran wide receiver Chris Moore on injured reserve.

The return specialist and special teams ace isn’t done for the season but will miss at least three weeks under the augmented 2020 rules for temporary IR designations.

Moore was listed as doubtful to play this Sunday after a thigh injury that limited him in Wednesday’s practice kept out of Thursday and Friday’s practices.

He has only been active or one game this year because of his injured thigh as well as a broken finger he suffered at the onset of training camp.

The fifth-year pro is one of the better special teams players not just on the roster but in the league, however, the Ravens have plenty of hungry and capable replacements on the roster that will help offset his loss in the third phases of the game for the time being.

WR Dez Bryant called up from practice squad-

After nearly three years removed from his last regular-season action that came in Week 17 of the 2017 season with the Dallas Cowboys, veteran wide receiver Dez Bryant will be back on an NFL field for an actual game on Sunday after the Ravens announced his promotion from the practice squad for this week’s game.

The three-time Pro Bowl wideout signed with the team during their bye week and has been turning heads and impressing his teammates and coaches alike since his first day stepping on the practice field.

The Ravens have been adamant about getting up to speed both on the field and in the classroom before considering him for permeant or even temporary elevation to the active or game-day roster and it appears that the time has finally come.

Nobody is expecting the former first-round pick who just turned 32-years-old earlier this week to return or even resemble his peak 2014 All-Pro form after the injuries he has sustained and all the time off.

However, he is expected to provide reigning league MVP and starting quarterback Lamar Jackson with another reliable possession receiver and another threat in both the red and end zone that can bring down 50/50 balls and make contested catches.

Perhaps he can provide a spark to what has been a much-maligned passing attack for the Ravens offense outside of the season opener. It’ll be intriguing to see what kind or if Bryant will be on some sort of a snap count or if he’ll only come onto the field in obvious passing downs and the red zone.