(This blog brought to you by Atlantic Remodeling. Visit www.atlanticremodeling.com to learn about their Red Cent Guarantee!)
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The wide receiver and tight end carousel continues for the Ravens as they are bringing back wide receiver Tandon Doss.
The 2011 fourth-round pick will rejoin the organization that drafted him after being waived on Aug. 31. Entering the summer with significant expectations to help fill the void created by the offseason trade of Anquan Boldin, Doss had a disappointing preseason and was left off the Ravens’ 53-man roster.
“It helps to have a guy that’s been here when you can bring someone like Tandon who knows the offense and is ready to plug right in and play for us,” coach John Harbaugh said. “There’s no teaching we have to do. he knows what to do. It’s a big plus for us.”
To make room for Doss, general manager Ozzie Newsome released veteran linebacker Robert James, who was claimed on waivers from the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 1.
The knee injury suffered by Jacoby Jones in the season-opening loss at Denver created depth concerns at wide receiver and in the return game where Doss has the ability to return punts. Jones is expected to miss at least a month with a sprained right MCL. Starting cornerback Lardarius Webb returned punts after Jones’ exit in the second quarter against the Broncos while No. 2 running back Bernard Pierce handled kickoff returns.
It’s believed that the Ravens would prefer not to use Webb in the return game since he is coming back from his second ACL surgery in four years.
“We’ll just go with the best guys we have,” Harbaugh said. “As a coach, you play with the guys you’ve got, so we’ll put the guy out there who gives us the best chance to hold onto the football and get us some yards. That’s what you have to do.”
In two seasons with the Ravens, Doss caught seven passes for 123 yards and a touchdown on 20 targets. He was expected to be the team’s slot receiver as many hoped his reputation for having good hands and running crisp routes to be a poor man’s version of Boldin.
Doss caught seven passes for 85 yards and a touchdown in the preseason but was heavily criticized for misreading a pressure and running the incorrect route on a Joe Flacco pass returned for a touchdown in the third preseason game against Carolina.
