The Baltimore Ravens decided to bring back veteran nose tackle Michael Pierce this offseason with the hope that he would provide a boost to a defensive interior that struggled at times last year.
But almost immediately, some concerns popped up.
Pierce was absent for the team’s mandatory minicamp period for what was later described as “personal reasons.” It didn’t take long for reports to emerge that the Ravens were a little concerned about their free-agent signing’s absence.
However, Pierce joined the rest of his teammates in Owings Mills on Tuesday as the Ravens officially reported for training camp. Michael Pierce is in the building.
The Ravens need Michael Pierce to be healthy and motivated in 2022
The Ravens signed Pierce to a three-year, $16.5 million contract this offseason as the presumptive replacement for the aging Brandon Williams. Pierce departed Baltimore prior to the 2020 season and spent the last two years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings.
Unfortunately, Pierce’s time in Minnesota didn’t really go as planned. He opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic before playing just eight games last season due to an elbow injury.
Pierce has played just eight games in two years and has struggled with his weight in the past, hence why there were some concerns when he failed to show up for either OTAs or minicamp.
But the 340-pounder did report with his teammates for training camp on Tuesday, and the Ravens need him to be the dominant interior force they signed him to be.
The departure of Williams and fellow veteran Justin Ellis has left the Ravens rather thin at nose tackle. Young players like Justin Madubuike and rookie Travis Jones could fill that role, but they might be better fits as 3-4 defensive ends as opposed to nose tackles.
The bottom line is that the Ravens need Michael Pierce to be the player he’s supposed to be in 2022. It’s encouraging to see him arrive at camp and put those offseason concerns to bed.