Ravens sign former Steelers TE Xavier Grimble to practice squad
The Baltimore Ravens brought in some additional depth at tight end on Wednesday by signing veteran free-agent tight end Xavier Grimble to their practice squad. He will be taking the spot of inside linebacker Kristian Welch on the expanded 16-player squad after the undrafted rookie was moved to the practice squad injured list.
Grimble spent training camp with the Indianapolis Colts this year after they signed him to a reserved/future contract last December but he spent the bulk of his career since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2014 out of USC with the Ravens’ bitter arch AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers.
He has appeared in 47 career games including seven starts, all of which came with the Steelers from 2016 to 2019. During those four years, he has recorded 23 receptions for 239 yards and three touchdowns. He’s mostly been used as an inline blocker and has even lined up in the backfield at times as a fullback.
Some Ravens fans may not so fondly remember his second career touchdown because it ruined many of their Christmases back in 2016. He only caught one pass for 20 yards in the Ravens and Steelers Week 16 matchup on Christmas Eve, but it went for a touchdown that helped secure the division crown for Pittsburgh and effectively eliminate Baltimore from playoff contention altogether.
The Ravens have just one fullback and only two true tight ends on their active roster and another two on the practice squad in veteran Jerell Adams and undrafted rookie Eli Wolf who they really like. Adding Grimble gives them another player at the position that could help take some of the practice reps away from Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle at tight end as well as Patrick Ricard at fullback. He’s played 217 career snaps on special teams for he could add some value in that phase as well.
