Ravens are expected to sign veteran WR Dez Bryant to practice squad
The Baltimore Ravens enter their rescheduled bye with a 5-1 record but know they have a lot of work to do to become the team want to be and achieve their ultimate goal. General Manager Eric DeCosta isn’t wasting any time fortifying the roster for the stretch run.
On Thursday, shortly after news broke that they agreed in principle to a trade to acquire Pro Bowl pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue from the Minnesota Viking, they are now expected to bring another former Pro Bowler on board.
According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the Ravens are expected to sign wide receiver Dez Bryant to their practice squad pending a workout and passed physical per an informed source.
This will be the second time that the three-time Pro Bowl pass-catcher will travel to Baltimore for a workout in the last three months but unlike his August visit, this trip will likely end with a contract even if it is not to the active roster just yet.
The former first-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2010 draft was once one of the top wide receivers in the league but hasn’t played a snap in the regular season since 2017.
He was released by the Cowboys in the spring of 2018, signed with the New Orleans Saints in November of that year but tore his Achilles and ended his season in his first practice with the team.
Bryant voluntarily sat out of all of 2019 with no intention of retiring and the desire to make a comeback in 2020.
He spent most of the summer catching passes from young Pro Bowl quarterbacks like Dak Prescott and reigning Superbowl MVP Patrick Mahomes so he hasn’t been out of sight and certainly hasn’t been out of mind for the Ravens.
Baltimore has reportedly been in the market for another veteran at the receiver position since the offseason but wanted to give their young players on the depth chart an opportunity to show what they can do.
However, the Ravens’ passing attack hasn’t been in sync since the season opener and while not all of that falls on the shoulders of their unproven pass catchers, outside of second-year pro Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown and rookie Devin Duvernay in limited opportunities, no one has stepped up to the plate.
Through the first six games of the season, Brown leads the team in targets (42), receptions (26), and receiving yards (376). But the next leader in those categories from the receiver position is veteran Willie Snead with just 11 catches on 15 targets for 149 yards. Both Snead and Brown only have one touchdown this year so far.
The Ravens and reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson is going to need reliable pass catchers to get the offense clicking on all cylinders.
At this stage in his career, Bryant is exactly what their offense needs at the moment which is a big-bodied possession receiver who can move the chains consistently and be a threat in the red zone.
His hands were strong but a little inconsistent during his final couple of years with the cowboys but hopefully the time extended time off allowed him the time to re-refine that aspect of his game and he’ll be called up from the practice squad and contributing in no time if all goes well.
