A bright spot in the midst of the Ravens’ late-season collapse has been rewarded with a 53-man roster spot.
Veteran safety Tony Jefferson was promoted from the practice squad ahead of Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now in his second stint with Baltimore after starting 35 games from 2017-19, Jefferson signed to the practice squad in mid-December and had been elevated for each of the last three games, collecting 13 tackles, a sack, and a pass breakup.
Since suffering a serious knee injury in early October 2019, Jefferson had drawn little interest around the league and had appeared in only two games with San Francisco earlier this season before ultimately reuniting with the Ravens. The 29-year-old has played well enough to garner consideration for a 2022 role playing in defensive sub packages and on special teams.
“I don’t think front offices around the league probably thought I was healthy, or I don’t know what their circumstances were when it came to me, regardless of the amount of tape I’ve put out for seven years,” Jefferson said last month. “But I do know I got my opportunity here. They know me here. I just wanted to go out there and showcase that I am healthy and go and play football. That was kind of my mindset if I were to get in — just go out and show.”
The Ravens also called up offensive lineman Jaryd Jones-Smith as a COVID-19 replacement for tight end Nick Boyle and defensive tackle Isaiah Mack and tight end Tony Poljan as their standard elevations from the practice squad. Jones-Smith offers more depth with guards Ben Powers (foot) and Ben Cleveland (head) both questionable to play while Poljan gives Baltimore another tight end with Boyle and Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard out for Sunday’s game.
Mack was a rare defensive bright spot in the Week 16 loss at Cincinnati and warrants another look, especially with the Ravens needing to revamp their defensive line this offseason.
Meanwhile, the Steelers activated top cornerback Joe Haden and starting center Kendrick Green from the reserve-COVID-19 list, but wide receiver James Washington was added to the list on Saturday. Pittsburgh’s top receiver, Diontae Johnson, returned from the COVID-19 list on Friday.
