The Baltimore Ravens (11-3) completed a couple of transactions on Tuesday following their win over the Jaguars on SNF and knowing RB Keaton Mitchell's season is over, as made official on Monday by head coach John Harbaugh.
The franchise announced the promotion of veteran running back Melvin Gordon III from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, signing him to a rest-of-season contract. Alongside this activation, the Ravens have also added Maryland native and former Super Bowl champion Jake Funk, who has been added to their practice squad.
We have signed RB Melvin Gordon III from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 19, 2023
We have also signed RB Jake Funk to the practice squad and placed RB Keaton Mitchell on Injured Reserve. https://t.co/a26w49E0M6
Gordon joined the Ravens in July, but he didn’t make the regular-season roster getting cut at the end of August when Baltimore trimmed its squad down to 53 men. He was retained and re-signed a few days later, however, and he was placed on the practice squad then.
Throughout the season, he was called up for three games exhausting his maximum number of elevations. Gordon racked up 53 yards on 13 carries in the games he played. His last appearance was in Week 4.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh praised Gordon’s dedication and readiness on his Monday presser, stating, "He’s been working so hard. His opportunity comes. He’s been there before. He’s a high-pedigree, great player, talented."
Gordon won the Super Bowl as a practice-squad member of the Kansas City Chiefs last February. He spent his first few seasons as a pro with the San Diego Chargers, then moved to play in Denver in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Jake Funk, the freshest member of the Ravens after getting inked on Tuesday, signed a practice-squad deal. He has had a rather weird career to date, mind you, after setting a 57-touchdown record in his senior season at Damascus High before joining the University of Maryland on his way to the NFL, where he amassed 968 career yards at the collegiate level.
The running back was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round of the 2021 draft, joined the team that would later be home to his old/new teammate Odell Beckham Jr., and went on to win the Super Bowl mostly taking on special teams duties for the Rams.
After being waived by the Rams in October of 2022, Funk had brief stints with the New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, and Miami Dolphins.
This season he's played four games for the Colts, rushing four times for 15 yards and catching one pass for 12 yards. Funk was released from Miami’s practice squad on November 18, and he's now a Baltimore Ravens. Welcome home, Jake!