Ravens roster move roundup ahead of Steelers game
The Baltimore Ravens made a trio of non-COVID-19 related roster moves on Monday ahead of their Week 12 matchup with their archrival Pittsburgh Steelers in primetime AFC North showdown on Thanksgiving night.
Here’s a brief breakdown of every move that transpired excluding the COVID list transactions:
Ravens activate RG Tyre Phillips from IR
The rookie third-round pick out of Mississippi State was designated to return from injured reserve after missing the last three games with a high ankle sprain he suffered in the first half of the team’s first meeting of the year with Pittsburgh.
Despite not having a preseason or any semblance of a normal offseason program, Phillips was able to win the starting right guard spot that was vacated by future Hall of Famer Marshal Yanda in training camp.
He started six of the Ravens’ first seven games and showed signs of improvement with each week of experience he got under his belt.
Outside of left guard where Bradley Bozeman has started every game, Baltimore’s offensive line has been in a continuous state of flux since both Phillips and All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley went down against the Steelers in Week Eight.
Second-year pro Ben Powers made his first of the season at right guard against the Titans this past Sunday and performed well according to Head Coach John Harbaugh. It remains to be seen if Phillips will be reinserted back at that spot or if he’ll play elsewhere.
He played offensive tackle in college and could be in the equation at right tackle since the team has struggled to find stability at the position since sliding Orlando Brown over to the left side after Stanley landed on season-ending injured reserve.
Ravens sign TE Eric Tomlinson to practice squad
The team brought in some more experience and depth at the tight end position with the signing of four-year veteran Eric Tomlinson to the practice squad.
The Ravens will be Tomlinson’s seventh team since entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Texas El-Paso.
He has started 32 of the 45 career games he has played in but only has managed to record 17 receptions on 26 targets for 194 yards and one touchdown. Tomlinson was most recently with the New York Giants but only appeared in one game this season before being waived on Nov.13.
The Ravens will now have three tight ends on their practice squad with veterans Luke Willson and Sean Culkin being the other two. It still leaves 2019 Pro Bowler Mark Andrews as the only true player at the position on the active roster.
Ravens expected to sign CB Pierre Desir
While the team has yet to officially announce the move, they are reportedly expected to sign veteran cornerback Pierre Desir following the successful completion of the league-mandated COVID-19 testing protocol.
Since Baltimore’s cornerback depth chart has been decimated for what feels like the 100th year in a row even though the team has only been around since 1996, the signing makes sense.
The six-year vet was originally a fourth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2014 draft and has played in 70 games with four different teams.
He has 44 career starts under his belt and most recently played with the New York Jets where appeared in nine games and made eight starts this season before being released last week.
Desir recorded 47 total tackles, three interceptions, a forced fumble, and eight pass breakups with the Jets this year. He has great ball skills and can be a difference-maker on defense but his inconsistent play has been the main reason that he hasn’t been able to get a team to commit to him long term.
