Ravens elevate Carl Jones Jr., Chris Moore ahead of season opener against Colts
Ravens elevate Carl Jones Jr., Chris Moore ahead of season opener against Colts
The Baltimore Ravens made four practice-squad moves Saturday as they put the finishing touches on their roster for Sunday’s season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
Baltimore elevated linebacker Carl Jones Jr. and veteran wide receiver Chris Moore from the practice squad for Sunday’s game at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Ravens also released rookie cornerback Lardarius Webb Jr. from the practice squad and brought linebacker Jamon Johnson back to Baltimore’s practice squad.
The moves come as Baltimore deals with injuries at linebacker and wide receiver heading into Week 1. Inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan has been ruled out with a knee injury, while wide receiver Devontez Walker is questionable because of a groin injury after being limited in practice throughout the week.
Jones provides linebacker and special teams depth
Jones gives the Ravens another option at linebacker with Buchanan unavailable. The 25-year-old spent training camp with Baltimore before being waived during final roster cuts and subsequently signed to the Ravens’ initial practice squad.
His role Sunday could extend beyond the defense. Baltimore’s official announcement specifically noted that Jones can contribute on special teams, which could make him particularly valuable with the Ravens beginning a new era under special teams coordinator Anthony Levine Sr.
The Ravens have traditionally placed significant value on reserve linebackers who can handle multiple special-teams responsibilities. With Buchanan unavailable, Jones provides Baltimore with insurance behind its primary linebackers without forcing the organization to make a permanent addition to the 53-man roster.
His elevation also gives new head coach Jesse Minter additional flexibility for his first regular-season game leading Baltimore. Minter will call the defensive plays this season, and the Ravens enter Week 1 with a defense that will look different from the group that finished the 2025 campaign.
Chris Moore returns to the Ravens’ game-day roster
Moore’s elevation is perhaps the more interesting move because it brings the veteran receiver back onto Baltimore’s game-day roster for the first time in years.
Baltimore originally selected Moore in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent the first five seasons of his career with the Ravens and developed into a dependable special-teams contributor and reserve receiver before continuing his career elsewhere.
Moore returned to Baltimore this summer and remained with the organization after failing to make the initial 53-man roster. The Ravens signed him to the practice squad Aug. 31, positioning him as an experienced option if injuries created a need at receiver or on special teams.
That need may already have arrived.
Walker’s groin injury leaves his status uncertain for Indianapolis, and Moore gives Baltimore an experienced replacement if Walker cannot play or is limited. Moore appeared in 14 games for the Washington Commanders in 2025, catching 11 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown. He also returned six kickoffs for 157 yards.
Those numbers may not jump off the page, but Moore’s versatility explains why Baltimore kept the 33-year-old around. He knows the organization, has extensive NFL experience and can contribute without needing a large role in the offense.
Moore’s presence also gives offensive coordinator Declan Doyle another veteran option behind Baltimore’s primary receivers. If Walker is inactive Sunday, Moore could see snaps on offense while also contributing to Levine’s special-teams units.
Ravens bring Jamon Johnson back
Baltimore also brought back Johnson after initially waiving him during the final roster cutdown.
Johnson has an interesting connection to the area. The 24-year-old attended St. Frances Academy in Baltimore before beginning his college career at Georgia, where he was part of the Bulldogs’ back-to-back national championship teams in 2021 and 2022. He eventually transferred to Kentucky for his final college season.
After going undrafted in 2025, Johnson signed with the Green Bay Packers and eventually appeared in two games, including one start. He recorded 10 tackles while playing 67 defensive snaps and another 25 snaps on special teams.
The Ravens originally signed Johnson on Aug. 8 during training camp while Baltimore was dealing with depth concerns at inside linebacker. He was among the players waived when Baltimore reduced its roster at the end of August.
Bringing him back now gives the Ravens another developmental linebacker who already knows the defense and has regular-season NFL experience. With Buchanan unavailable for Week 1, maintaining additional linebacker depth on the practice squad makes sense.
Webb’s first Ravens stint comes to an end
The corresponding move was the release of Webb, whose presence in Baltimore carried considerable sentimental value because of his family connection to the franchise.
Webb is the son of former Ravens defensive back Lardarius Webb Sr., who played nine seasons for Baltimore and became a significant member of the Ravens’ secondary during the 2010s.
The younger Webb spent training camp and the preseason with Baltimore before being waived during the final roster cuts. The Ravens brought him back Sept. 3 when they signed Webb and veteran offensive lineman Chuma Edoga to the practice squad.
Webb made a case for himself during the preseason. In Baltimore’s preseason finale against the Washington Commanders, he forced a fumble on a kickoff return while also recording a pass breakup and two tackles.
However, practice-squad spots frequently change throughout an NFL season as teams adjust to injuries and weekly matchup needs. With Baltimore needing additional linebacker depth, Webb became the odd man out Saturday.
The move does not necessarily mean his time with the organization is permanently over. Practice-squad players regularly cycle on and off rosters, and Baltimore could revisit Webb later depending on injuries and roster needs.
Ravens prepare to open a new era
The transactions come one day before Baltimore begins one of its most intriguing seasons in years.
The Ravens visit the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m. on CBS. It will officially begin the Minter era after Baltimore went 3-0 during the preseason and outscored its opponents 78-13.
Minter takes over a Ravens team looking to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season. Baltimore finished 8-9, placed second in the AFC North and missed the playoffs for only the second time since 2018.
There has also been significant change around Minter. Doyle takes over the offense, Levine leads the special teams and Anthony Weaver serves as defensive coordinator, although Minter will handle the defensive play-calling responsibilities on game day.
Baltimore has historically performed well in openers. The Ravens are 16-14 all-time in season-opening games and have gone 12-6 in openers since 2008.
The first objective is leaving Indianapolis 1-0, and Saturday’s moves show Baltimore is preparing for the possibility of entering the game without Buchanan and potentially Walker.
MSB Take
The Chris Moore elevation is the move to watch Sunday.
Moore is not being asked to suddenly become one of Baltimore’s featured receivers, but he is exactly the type of veteran who can help a team in Week 1. He knows how to play special teams, has more than enough NFL experience to step into the offense when needed and provides the Ravens with insurance if Walker cannot play.
Jones’ elevation is equally logical with Buchanan ruled out. Baltimore cannot afford to enter the opener thin at linebacker, particularly with Minter beginning his tenure and calling the defense himself.
The Webb move is disappointing because of the obvious connection his family has with the Ravens, and the younger Webb showed some encouraging signs during the preseason. However, practice squads are designed to give teams flexibility, and right now Baltimore needs linebacker depth more than another developmental cornerback.
Bringing Johnson back also makes sense. He is young, has already played meaningful NFL snaps and is familiar with Baltimore after spending training camp with the Ravens.
None of Saturday’s transactions are blockbuster moves, but this is how NFL rosters operate during the regular season. The bottom of the roster changes based on injuries and weekly needs, and Baltimore is making sure Minter has as many options as possible for his first game.
Now the roster work is essentially finished.
The next step is Indianapolis.
