The Baltimore Ravens completed a significant roster transformation over the past four days, reducing their offseason group to 53 players and constructing a practice squad before turning their attention toward the September 13 season opener against the Colts. Baltimore began preparing for the deadline on August 26 by placing center Danny Pinter on injured reserve. Pinter suffered a torn patellar tendon during a joint practice with Minnesota. The Ravens also waived linebacker Reid Williford with an injury settlement.
The largest wave of moves arrived August 30. Baltimore placed cornerback Bilhal Kone and running back Adam Randall on injured reserve with designations to return. Both players counted against the initial 53 before being moved, allowing them to return after missing at least four regular-season games.
The Ravens then released five vested veterans: wide receiver Chris Moore, cornerback Amani Oruwariye, offensive tackle David Sharpe, safety K’Von Wallace and running back Jonathan Ward. Unlike players with fewer than four accrued seasons, those veterans immediately became free agents.
Baltimore also waived 28 players:
- LB Michael Barrett
- G Evan Beerntsen
- DL Rayshaun Benny
- WR Cortez Braham Jr.
- G/C Corey Bullock
- C Nick Dawkins
- LB Dominic DeLuca
- DL Aaron Graves
- WR Xavier Guillory
- OLB Adisa Isaac
- WR Cornelius Johnson
- LB Jamon Johnson
- LB Carl Jones Jr.
- T Gerad Lichtenhan
- CB Robert Longerbeam
- RB Dontae McMillan
- DL David Olajiga
- TE Ty Pezza
- QB Austin Reed
- CB Marquise Robinson
- OLB Kaimon Rucker
- FB Lucas Scott
- WR Octavian Smith Jr.
- RB Elijah Tau-Tolliver
- WR Dayton Wade
- S Silas Walters
- CB Lardarius Webb Jr.
- DL Dion Wilson Jr.
After the waiver period ended, Baltimore brought back Benny, Dawkins, DeLuca, Guillory, Isaac, Jones, Lichtenhan, Olajiga, Pezza and Rucker on the practice squad. Moore, Oruwariye, Wallace and Ward also returned, while kicker Jake Moody joined the organization.
The Ravens subsequently added offensive lineman AJ Arcuri and veteran tight end Nick Vannett, filling all 17 practice-squad positions. Those moves gave Baltimore an experienced group of reserves behind a 53-man roster built to contend immediately.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Every move the Ravens made to establish their 53-man roster
