Ravens announce four roster moves ahead of primetime matchup with Chiefs
The Baltimore Ravens announced four roster transactions a few hours ahead of their Week Three matchup with the reigning Superbowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football and they all involved their defensive backfield.
Elite nickel corner Tavon Young is officially heading to injured reserve for the remainder of the 2020 season after tearing his ACL early in the team’s Week Two win over the Texans and veteran safety Jordan Richard is taking his place on the active roster.
Last season Richards appeared in 12 games between the Ravens and the New England Patriots. In his nine games with the Ravens, he played 177 of his 178 snaps on special teams. He was resigned this offseason, released during the final round of roster cuts in September, and then was brought back on the team’s practice squad under the veteran exception since he’s a six-year pro.
Under the amended 2020 COVID-19 rules, teams are allowed to protect and promote a select number of players from their expanded 16-man practice squads this year to the active roster on game days.
Richards has been promoted to the active roster in the first two games of the season before being permanently placed on the active 53 following Young’s injury. He has yet to play a snap on defense this season but has played on 74 percent of Baltimore’s special teams snaps in each of the first two weeks.
With Mahomes and his arsenal of game-breaking pass catchers in town for a primetime showdown at M&T Bank Stadium, the Ravens decided to bring up some reinforcements at the cornerback position from the practice squad. Undrafted rookie Khalil Dorsey and former AAF standout Terrell Bonds will be active for tonight’s game against the Chiefs.
Both players were with Baltimore during training camp and performed well before being released in the final round of cuts like Richard. They are both built in the nickel corner mold will be a part of the collaborative effort to help offset the loss of Young in the slot on defense.
They will also be expected to contribute on special teams since the Ravens probably want more speed on their coverage units with a pair of dangerous returners that have made the Pro Bowl for Kansas City in speedy wide receivers Mecole Hardman and Tyreek Hill.
