Baltimore Ravens send Maurice Canady to IR, Re-sign Chris Matthews

The Baltimore Ravens placed cornerback Maurice Canady on Injured Reserve and re-signed wide receiver Chris Matthews.

In an expected move, the Baltimore Ravens announced today that they have placed cornerback Maurice Canady on Injured Reserve.

The move allows an active player to take Canady’s place and that player is wide receiver Chris Matthews. After waiving him just two days ago, Matthews makes it on to the Ravens’ 53-man roster.

There was speculation who the Ravens were going to add in Canady’s spot. Aside from Matthews, offensive lineman Matt Skura was in consideration. There was also a chance the Ravens would bring in an outside player. But not surprisingly, sign someone they are familiar with. This move likely means that Skura will be signed to the team’s practice squad, as reported by Jeff Zrebiec.

Canady suffered a cartilage tear in his knee late July, but is not expected to miss the whole season. He’ll be eligible to return off of Injured Reserve when healthy. The 2016 sixth-round pick was in contention for serious playing time this season before suffering the injury. When he’ll return is in question, but you’d figure it would be later in the season. If the Ravens make a playoff run, having more depth at cornerback will be important.

Matthews will be a bottom of the depth chart receiver, but he was re-signed for special teams purposes. He was a consistent starter on special teams during the preseason. At 6-5, Matthews provides plenty of size as a gunner and coverage man.

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These aren’t the exciting moves fans will be looking for, but in terms of team strategy, it’s a smart one. Matthews is a solid special teams player and at the very least gives another body at receiver. He’s shown he can produce at receiver in the past, but it hasn’t been a consistent part of his game. This may give him a small shot to do that.