Ravens roster move roundup ahead of Jaguars game
The Baltimore Ravens made a handful of roster moves a day before their AFC matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars is slated to kick off at 1 pm ET on CBS at M&T Bank Stadium.
They got their leading receiver and starting punt returner back from the Reserve/COVID-19 list, released an offensive skill player, and elevated three players from the practice squad to provide depth at key positions.
Here is a breakdown of all the transactions and other roster related moves that transpired on Friday:
Three WRs activated off Reserve/COVID-19 List
The Ravens had to place second-year wide receivers Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown and Miles Boykin and rookie wideout James Proche on the Reserve/COVID-19 List on Wednesday after they were identified as close contacts to coach that tested positive for the virus on Monday.
After producing multiple negative results, all three were activated from the reserve list and will revert back to the active roster. Head Coach John Harbaugh told reporters on Friday that he expected to have them all available on Sunday and now it is official.
Brown leads the team in targets (81), receptions (43), receiving yards (605), and has scored a touchdown on 20 or more yards in each of the Ravens’ last three games.
Boykin is a tremendous downfield blocker in the running game and came on strong as a pass-catcher in recent weeks with a pair of catches and a touchdown in the last two games. He has been getting open but just hasn’t been targeted enough and has been over or underthrown when he has been.
Proche hasn’t played much on offense in his first season to date but the sixth-round pick out of SMU is the starting punt returner and has recorded 175 yards on 21 returns with an average of 8.3 yards.
Three depth players elevated from the practice squad
The Ravens elevated a trio of players from the practice squad to provide depth at key positions that they are light at this week. Rookie quarterback Tyler Huntley, veteran tight end Eric Tomlinson, and veteran cornerback Pierre Desir were called up on Saturday and will suit up on Sunday.
Huntley signed with the team as an undrafted free agent out of Utah and will serve as the primary back to reigning league Lamar Jackson against the Jaguars since both Robert Griffin III and Trace McSorley on injured reserve.
His coaches and teammates have been singing his praises and expressing their confidence in his ability this past week and he could get his first taste of actual NFL action if the Ravens get up big early.
Baltimore’s secondary is banged up at the cornerback spot and veteran Jimmy Smith has already been declared out. Desir is a seasoned vet with plenty of starting experience and ball skills that will provide excellent depth behind starters Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters.
He signed with the team on Nov.28 and played just eight snaps on special teams against the Cowboys in his first time being called up, however, in nine games with the New York Jets prior to his release on Nov.18, he made eight starts and recorded three interceptions.
Even though he hasn’t caught a pass or even been targeted in the three games he has appeared in since signing with the team on Nov.23, Tomlinson has been great as a blocker in the run game and a key contributor in offsetting the loss of stellar blocking tight end Nick Boyle who is on season-ending injured reserve with a knee injury.
Veteran TE Luke Willson waived
The Ravens cut the eighth-year veteran after a three-game sample size where he looked solid as a blocker but only recorded one reception on three targets for 12 yards.
Willson missed last week’s big win over the Browns with a hip injury but was on track to return for Sunday’s game. He was listed as questionable on the final injury report but was expected to play prior to his release.
He drew a key pass interference call to extend a scoring drive against the Cowboys in Week 13 but couldn’t haul in a pop pass in the end zone against the Steelers the week before that proved to be pivotal in the team’s 19-14 defeat.
