NFL veterans reported to the Baltimore Ravens camp on Tuesday, July 25, ahead of the start of activities at Owing Mills on Wednesday.
That brought a bunch of news both from inside and outside of the Ravens facilities, including a few players answering media questions on the day at the podium (Mark Andrews, Roquan Smith, and Morgan Moses spoke to the press) and some transactions announced by the organization.
We have claimed WR Makai Polk.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 25, 2023
We have released WRs Andy Isabella and Mike Thomas. https://t.co/taVuyAZNAo
The Ravens announced five roster moves through the day, tidily summarized by Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com.
Baltimore released wide receivers Andy Isabella and Mike Thomas, claimed Makai Polk off waivers, and officially signed free agents Melvin Gordon III and Tyler Ott, per Mink and Jamison Hensley of ESPN.
Ravens roster moves Tuesday
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) July 25, 2023
Officially signed:
RB Melvin Gordon
LS Tyler Ott
Claimed off waivers:
WR Makai Polk
Released:
WR Andy Isabella
WR Mike Thomas
Polk had already spent time with the Ravens, signing with Baltimore after going undrafted out of Mississippi State last year.
Lastly, Polk was a member of the New York Giants. The franchise waived him, and the Ravens pounced on his availability adding him in exchange for releasing both Isabella and Thomas on Tuesday to pad the receiving corps through training camp.
Isabella played two games as a Baltimore Raven last year, and three for the Arizona Cardinals before the latter organization cut him opening the door for the former to sign him.
Thomas played for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022, appearing in 10 games and catching a couple of passes from quarterback Joe Burrow for 38 yards on 10 targets.
On top of those three wide-receiver-based moves, the Ravens made the signing of Melvin Gordon official to bolster their backfield and strengthen the running back position.
Gordon joins a loaded unit already featuring J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill as locks to make the 53-man roster ahead of next season.
RB Melvin Gordon arrives at training camp in Owings Mills.
— Baltimore Banner Sports (@AllBannerSports) July 25, 2023
The Ravens signed Gordon to a one-year deal last Friday. https://t.co/D5OrUvNtpE pic.twitter.com/lGkJefMJxX
The veteran rusher is coming off a season with the Denver Broncos and later the Kansas City Chiefs, the franchise he won the Super Bowl with even though he didn't appear in any game donning Chiefs' threads.
Finally, the Ravens also confirmed the signing of former Seattle Seahawks long snapper Tyler Ott after their own player at the LS position, Nick Moore, tore his Achilles forcing him to miss the entirety of the 2023 campaign.