The Ravens emphasized depth at the running back position in completing their initial 10-man practice squad on Tuesday.
Running backs Jeremy Langford and Alex Collins, offensive lineman Matt Skura, and cornerback Tony McRae were officially inked to the developmental squad, joining wide receivers Quincy Adeboyejo, fullback Ricky Ortiz, tight end Ryan Malleck, offensive lineman Maurquice Shakir, outside linebacker Boseko Lokombo, and cornerback Reggie Porter. The first six were signed on Sunday after being cut by Baltimore and passing through waivers over the weekend.
With the Ravens having just three running backs — Terrance West, Danny Woodhead, and Buck Allen — on their 53-man roster, the additions of Langford and Collins indicate that general manager Ozzie Newsome may not be satisfied with the personnel at the position. In contrast, the Ravens abstained from signing a quarterback to their initial practice squad, another sign of their confidence that starter Joe Flacco’s back is healthy after keeping only two quarterbacks on the active roster.
Langford played the last two seasons in Chicago, rushing for a combined 737 yards for the Bears and opening the 2016 campaign as the starter before suffering an ankle injury and losing his job to rookie Jordan Howard. The 2015 fourth-round pick out of Michigan State was cut by the Bears at the end of the preseason.
Collins was a fifth-round pick for Seattle in last year’s draft and rushed for 125 yards in 11 games. The Arkansas product was waived by the Seahawks at the end of the preseason.
Skura will begin his second year on the Baltimore practice squad and was waived on Saturday despite starting all four preseason games on the Ravens offensive line this summer. The acquisitions of interior offensive linemen Tony Bergstrom and Luke Bowanko presumably squeezed Skura off the 53-man roster.
An undrafted free agent from North Carolina in 2016, McRae spent this preseason with Cincinnati and was also a member of the Bengals’ practice squad last year.
