Ravens release backup tight end, sign tackle to bolster offensive line

The Baltimore Ravens made roster moves on Tuesday, signing offensive tackle Josh Wells to their practice squad and parting ways with tight end Eric Tomlinson to make room for the lineman.

The Ravens announced the transactions around noon on Tuesday, ahead of their second day of practice of the short week before they take on Cincinnati on Thursday Night Football.

Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston first reported that the Ravens had worked out offensive tackles Devery Hamilton and Josh Wells the previous day.

Hamilton, a product of Baltimore's Gilman High School, was an undrafted free agent for the Raiders in 2021, having a stint with the Giants in 2022.

Wells, a 32-year-old Super Bowl Champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, had not been on an active roster in 2023. The Ravens decided to go with the more experienced veteran instead of the younger lineman.

The former Bucs tackle, who went undrafted in 2014 out of James Madison, has appeared in 95 games with 24 of those featuring him as a starting lineman. He won the Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers a few years back.

Morgan Moses, the Ravens' starting right tackle, talked to reporters after Tuesday's practice forecasting his return after missing the last two games with a shoulder injury.

Even then, Baltimore seems to be erring on the safe side of things by adding Wells to a depleted line that might or might not have Moses, Ronnie Stanley, and John Simpson available on TNF after they have been in and out of the injury report of late.

As Moses put it while discussing his status with the media members attending Tuesday's session, "I'm prepared to play."

Following Sunday's loss to Cleveland, John Harbaugh said that he didn't have an injury update on lineman Ronnie Stanley, then said on Monday that there was a chance he would play on Thursday. We'll see how that goes, although on a short week, Stanley is surely facing long odds.