Needing to add depth after the loss of Dennis Pitta for the remainder of the preseason with a broken hand, the Ravens announced the signing of veteran tight end Billy Bajema to the 90-man preseason roster.
Entering his eighth season, the 29-year-old made 12 starts and played in all 16 games for the St. Louis Rams last season. He caught nine passes for 71 yards and is regarded as a blocking tight end.
With 2009 fifth-round pick Davon Drew and rookies Bruce Figgins and Matt Balasavage the only healthy tight ends on the roster behind starter Ed Dickson, Bajema brings a veteran presence and could potentially compete with Drew for the No. 3 tight end job. Of course, that’s assuming the Ravens elect to keep three tight ends when they trim the roster down to 53 at the beginning of September.
Bajema’s best season came in 2010 when he made 14 receptions for 145 yards and caught two touchdowns. He spent four seasons in San Francisco before playing the last three with the Rams, accumulating 38 catches for 398 yards and two receiving touchdowns.
He was a seventh-round pick from Oklahoma State in the 2005 draft.
In a corresponding move, rookie quarterback John Brantley was released.
