The Baltimore Ravens officially signed veteran pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul less than a week ago, but the three-time Pro Bowler is already looking to take the field for his Ravens debut.
Pierre-Paul spoke to reporters on Friday ahead of this Sunday’s clash with the Buffalo Bills and he vowed to be on the field in Week 4. The 12-year NFL veteran promised that he would be ready for Sunday’s game despite not officially signing his contract until Monday of this week.
The Ravens brought Pierre-Paul in for a visit for the second time this season last week. This time, they were a bit more desperate for outside linebacker help following a slew of injuries at the position.
Despite not playing at all this summer, Pierre-Paul has clearly kept himself in excellent shape seeing as he’ll have just three practices under his belt before he makes his Ravens debut on Sunday.
Jason Pierre-Paul said he will be playing Sunday against the Bills. He signed with the Ravens on Monday. pic.twitter.com/YLryWk9CQP
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) September 30, 2022
The Ravens should see the debut of Jason Pierre-Paul on Sunday
The Ravens have been searching for reinforcements at the outside linebacker position for months now. With Tyus Bowser and David Ojabo still recovering from injury, the team’s outside linebacker corps have been razor-thin for most of the last few months.
They certainly haven’t been helped by season-ending injuries to the likes of Vince Biegel and Steven Means, two veterans who were brought in to serve as additional depth.
The hope is that Pierre-Paul can fill that depth role — and perhaps even more given his history.
Pierre-Paul is a three-time Pro Bowler and former All-Pro who has racked up over 90 career sacks in 12 NFL seasons. He’s coming off a disappointing 2021 campaign but one that saw him battle through a number of injuries.
Now healthy again, Pierre-Paul is looking to pick up where he left off in 2020 when he recorded 9.5 sacks for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in what was a Pro Bowl season.
Can he come close to matching that production in Baltimore? That much remains to be seen, but the Ravens aren’t asking him to do that.
They just need healthy, capable bodies to hold down the fort until Bowser and Ojabo return. They’re hoping Pierre-Paul can provide them with just that.
The fact that he’s come along as quickly as he has is certainly encouraging.