OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse for a struggling passing game, the Ravens have lost starting wide receiver Devin Duvernay for at least the rest of the regular season and the opening round of the playoffs.
After leaving Tuesday’s practice with a foot injury, Duvernay was placed on injured reserve, which will sideline him for a minimum of four games. It’s unclear whether the third-year receiver and 2021 Pro Bowl return specialist will be able to return for a potential playoff run, but the swift decision to place him on IR leads one to assume he sustained a significant injury.
Duvernay was suited up and present during the portion of practice open to local reporters, but he wasn’t taking his usual share of special-teams reps and eventually limped off the field while being accompanied by a member of the training staff. It’s unclear when the injury occurred or if his foot had been bothering him prior to Tuesday’s practice as the Ravens were ramping up preparations to play the Atlanta Falcons on Christmas Eve.
The 2020 third-round pick out of Texas concludes the regular season with 37 catches for 407 yards and three touchdowns, which were all career highs. Duvernay also returned a kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown in the Week 2 loss to Miami and rushed 12 times for 84 yards and a touchdown this season. His production on offense and as a return specialist had slowed in recent weeks after a fast start to 2022, but his upside will be missed in an offense that’s scored more than 16 points just once in five games since the Week 10 bye.
The Ravens replaced Duvernay on the active roster by claiming veteran wide receiver Sammy Watkins off waivers from Green Bay. The 29-year-old spent last year with the Ravens — catching 27 passes for 394 yards and a touchdown in 14 games — but he struggled to make an impact for a Packers offense that’s had its own issues at wide receiver this season, catching only 13 passes in nine games and spending time on IR with a hamstring injury.
The Ravens designated inside linebacker Josh Ross to return to practice from IR on Tuesday. The undrafted rookie out of Michigan has been out with a foot injury since Week 2.
Baltimore also signed former Cincinnati wide receiver Mike Thomas to the practice squad and released guard Zack Johnson from the practice squad.
