The Ravens moved safety Will Hill on the 53-man roster on Saturday afternoon, making him eligible to make his 2014 season debut against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
Hill’s six-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy ended last week and the Ravens are expected to take a long look at Hill as an option at the free safety position. Baltimore currently ranks 27th in the NFL in pass defense and has received inconsistent play at safety despite a 4-2 start this season.
To make room on active roster, defensive tackle Christo Bilukidi was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
Having already served three suspensions in three NFL seasons, Hill carries plenty of off-field baggage, but the New York Giants were pleased with his performance as he started 10 games in 2013. Hill made 77 tackles, two interceptions, and two pass breakups last year and was viewed as one of the rising young safeties in the league before being suspended six games for marijuana use in the spring, which led to the Giants’ decision to release him.
It remains unclear how much playing time Hill will receive against the Falcons, but it would make sense to allow him to play special teams as well as limited reps in some of defensive coordinator Dean Pees’ sub packages. The Ravens have made no secret about their excitement over Hill’s potential if his off-field problems are finally behind him.
“We expect him to be a very, very good player back there,” Pees said on Thursday. “I think he’s very smart. He has really kept up on everything. It was great to see him back [at practice]. I think he has done a good job here in the few days that we’ve been back practicing. It’ll be interesting to see how he progresses, but we think he’s the real deal.”
The Ravens now have seven safeties on their 53-man roster but only four cornerbacks.
They elected not to move defensive tackle Terrence Cody to the 53-man roster as he began practicing this week after starting the year on the reserve-physically unable to perform list. Cody underwent hip surgery in the offseason.
Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
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