This week’s news centers on the Baltimore Ravens’ wideout corps, which is getting a shake-up with only three games remaining in the regular season.
The Ravens placed wide receiver Devin Duvernay on injured reserve on Tuesday after Duvernay suffered an injury in practice.
It’s another brutal injury-related loss for the team that comes a few weeks after Lamar Jackson suffered a knee sprain against the Denver Broncos.
Duvernay started his third season in Baltimore full of promise with three touchdowns in the first three games, but he has since fizzled out, recording fewer than 100 total receiving yards in the last six games.
With Rashod Bateman out for the year, Duvernay became the Ravens’ next-in-line wideout threat on paper, though on the field he has struggled to command a consistent share of targets.
This sucks. Tough finish for Devin Duvernay, who got off to a really hot start this year.
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) December 20, 2022
Get well soon, Duv! https://t.co/j8HEeXaIBc
The Ravens made a few moves at the wide receiver position following Duvernay’s injury….
Here’s what’s trending in Ravens news around the web
Ravens claim WR Sammy Watkins on waivers (Jamison Hensley, ESPN)
Guess who’s back? Good ol’ Sammy Watkins. The veteran wideout was released by the Green Bay Packers on Monday and subsequently claimed by his former team.
Watkins has a known history of nagging injuries, part of the reason the Ravens let him go after a disappointing 2021 campaign.
After losing Duvernay, however, the Ravens are running thin on wideout reinforcements and need all the help they can get to finish the season on a strong note. Expect Watkins, who is already familiar with Baltimore’s offensive scheme, to make an immediate impact in the passing game — assuming he’s healthy these next few weeks.
Ravens add Bengals WR Michael Thomas to the practice squad (Spencer Schultz, Baltimore Beatdown)
Not to be confused with New Orleans Saints star wideout Michael Thomas, Cincinnati Bengals’ Michael Thomas was recently brought onto Baltimore’s practice squad.
The Ravens plucked him from their divisional rivals’ hands and will likely see how he develops in the wide receiver unit before elevating him for games. Thomas is a former sixth-round pick with very little starting experience, spending most of his career as a depth piece for the Los Angeles Rams and the Bengals.
John Harbaugh shows support for Greg Roman (Joseph Zucker, Bleacher Report)
Head coach John Harbaugh remains steadfast in his support for offensive coordinator Greg Roman and told reporters he’s not going to “get into” talks about reshuffling his coaching staff at this point in the season.
Tensions surrounding Roman’s tenure had peaked after outside linebacker Tyus Bowser posted a video on Instagram that showed notes littered outside of the team facility calling for Roman’s firing. The video has since been deleted.
Harbaugh said:
"“We’re together man. We’re a team. We’re spending all of our time getting ready for the Atlanta Falcons with every ounce of energy and fiber we got with a bunch of very, very good people at what they do, who understand everything about our team better than anybody else possibly could.”"