The Ravens set their initial 53-man roster Tuesday with hardly anything that would qualify as a surprise.
As expected, nickel cornerback Arthur Maulet (knee) landed on injured reserve with a designation to return and running back Keaton Mitchell went on the reserve physically unable to perform list, moves that will sideline both for at least the first four games of the 2024 season. Maulet is expected to return from arthroscopic knee surgery in October while Mitchell isn’t likely to be ready to play until November at the earliest after he tore the ACL and other ligaments in his left knee last December.
Undrafted safety and former University of Maryland standout Beau Brade made the 53-man squad after a strong preseason, meaning Baltimore appears set to keep at least one rookie free agent on its season-opening roster for the 20th time in the last 21 seasons. The 6-foot, 209-pound Brade was believed to be competing with seventh-round pick Sanoussi Kane for a roster spot in a deep secondary, but both rookies ended up making the roster.
Time to get to work! Week 1 is here!🐦⬛💜— Beau Brade (@bebrade02) August 28, 2024
Of the Ravens’ nine-man 2024 draft class, sixth-round quarterback Devin Leary was the only one not to make the initial 53-man squad after a challenging preseason and a particularly poor performance at Green Bay last Saturday. In addition to Leary, the most notable young players to be waived included 2022 fourth-round cornerback Damarion Williams, undrafted rookie receiver Dayton Wade, and inside linebacker Josh Ross.
The Ravens also released seven vested veterans with safety Daryl Worley headlining that list.
Though Maulet was placed on IR with a return designation, the Ravens put five others on season-ending IR, a group that included running back Owen Wright. The 2023 practice-squad member appeared to have a good chance to win the No. 3 running back job before he suffered a fractured right foot in the preseason finale against the Packers. Though still in the concussion protocol as of Monday, rookie fifth-round pick Rasheen Ali was the third running back to make the roster behind starter Derrick Henry and top backup Justice Hill.
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The Ravens ultimately kept 10 offensive linemen on the initial roster, but general manager Eric DeCosta is likely to explore external options to upgrade the unit’s depth at the very least after an uneven summer. Both seventh-round rookie center Nick Samac and 2023 sixth-round guard Malaesala Aumavae–Laulu made the team despite questions about their status.
Ravens defense
DL – Madubuike, Pierce, Jones, B. Washington, Urban
ILB – R. Smith, Simpson, Harrison, Board
OLB – Oweh, Van Noy, Ojabo, T. Robinson, Isaac
CB – Humphrey, Stephens, Wiggins, Armour-Davis, Tampa
S – Hamilton, M. Williams, E. Jackson, A. Washington, Brade, Kane— Luke Jones (@BaltimoreLuke) August 28, 2024
Below is a look at Baltimore’s complete list of cuts from Tuesday:
WAIVED
OT Corey Bullock
RB Chris Collier
CB Bump Cooper Jr.
WR Malik Cunningham
G Darrian Dalcourt
OLB Joe Evans
TE Qadir Ismail
QB Emory Jones
QB Devin Leary
G Tashawn Manning
OT Julian Pearl
DE C.J. Ravenell
ILB Yvandy Rigby
ILB Josh Ross
WR Dayton Wade
CB Damarion Williams
VESTED VETERANS TERMINATED
CB Ka’dar Hollman
RB John Kelly
WR Keith Kirkwood
WR Anthony Miller
NT Deadrin Senat (injury settlement)
DT Josh Tupou (injury settlement)
DB Darly Worley
INJURED RESERVE
ILB Deion Jennings
DB Christian Matthew
CB Arthur Maulet (designated to return)
CB Trayvon Mullen
WR Isaiah Washington
RB Owen Wright
RESERVE PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM LIST
RB Keaton Mitchell
