After it looked like his career with the Ravens might be over a few months ago, 2013 first-round pick Matt Elam will get a final chance beginning with Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh.
The fourth-year safety was elevated to the 53-man roster on Saturday after being designated to return from injured reserve during the bye week. Elam has practiced for the last two weeks after missing the final two preseason games and the first seven games of the regular season while recovering from knee surgery.
“He’s healthy. He could do it,” said head coach John Harbaugh on Friday about the possibility of Elam being activated. “It’s just a matter of whether we decide to do it this week or not in terms of is he ‘football ready’ to play in a game [and is] physically and mentally ready to play well in a game.”
The Ravens waived cornerback Robertson Daniel to make room for Elam on the active roster. The moves came a day after Baltimore cut cornerback Will Davis and claimed cornerback Chris Lewis-Harris off waivers from Cincinnati.
Regarded as one of the most disappointing draft picks in franchise history, Elam hasn’t played in a real game since the end of the 2014 postseason. The University of Florida product missed the entire 2015 season with a torn biceps suffered early in training camp.
In 32 career games (26 starts), Elam has collected 127 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble, seven pass breakups, and one-half of a sack. The 5-foot-10, 208-pound safety lost his starting role during the 2014 season as he continued to struggle in pass coverage and missed too many tackles.
Elam is in the final year of his rookie contract after the Ravens declined to pick up his fifth-year option last offseason.
The Ravens also announced that they waived tight end Nic Jacobs from their practice squad, which means they will have just two tight ends active for Sunday’s game — Dennis Pitta and Darren Waller. Crockett Gillmore was ruled out with a thigh injury on Friday after missing the entire week of practice.
