Ravens sign QB; adding extra RB "up in the air right now"

Just two days after releasing a member of their organization, the Baltimore Ravens brought him back as the third member of the quarterback room pertaining to the 53-man roster ahead of Week 4.

Veteran quarterback Josh Johnson was released on Saturday in order for Baltimore to make room for outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon to join the active squad by signing him to the 53-man roster.

Moon could only be signed to a first-team deal following the two-activation-per-week limit imposed by the NFL and fulfilled by the Ravens by activating two PS running backs for Sunday, Melvin Gordon and Kenyan Drake. Thus, Johnson's cut.

John Harbaugh held a press conference on Monday and he confirmed that Johnson has now re-signed with the Ravens to backup starting quarterback Lamar Jackson.

"[Josh Johnson]'s back to the regular roster. He signed to the roster. He'll be back on the 53[-man] roster," Harbaugh said. "We did that, basically, because we needed to have enough guys who were healthy [and] active."

Johnson was named the official QB2 of the Ravens for the first two games of the regular season ahead of reserve quarterback Tyler Huntley. None of Johnson or Huntley has taken a single snap yet, though, with Lamar's health intact three weeks into the season.

It's still unclear who will be named to the matchday squad in Week 4 now that both backup quarterbacks are part of the active, 53-man roster.

One of them can be added as the bonus third-quarterback without accounting for a gameday spot, but he wouldn't be allowed to enter the game under any circumstance unless Jackson starts and is ruled out throughout the matchup.

In saucier developments, Kyle Barber of Baltimore Beatdown asked Harbaugh if the franchise "will have to make a move at running back" after the injury (concussion) suffered by Gus Edwards last Sunday.

Harbaugh answered, "All that is up in the air right now." The coach conceded "We'll just see where we're at. It's early, it's Monday," leaving the door open for a potential addition via free agency or trade, possibly with the Indianapolis Colts for Jonathan Taylor if the price is right.

The Ravens backfield, as it looks on Tuesday AM, looks dreadful, to say the least. Dobbins, Edwards, and Hill were the three running backs expected to carry the load as the RB1/RB2/RB3 of the team this season but all of them are down injured.

Keaton Mitchell made the final 53-man roster but started the season on IR, thus being ineligible until Week 5 at the earliest. Owen Wright is just another warm body to have around in practices.

Melvin Gordon and Kenyan Drake were signed off the street and the former has not done a lot while the latter fumbled his first touch last Sunday.

The Ravens are entering a crucial three-game on-the-road sting that includes games against AFC North foes in Cleveland and Pittsburgh and an international game in London against the Titans.

Folks will tell you running backs are not of prime importance to win football games. That might be right, but not having a single rusher available is definitely worse than paying top-dollar assets for one.

More Baltimore Ravens content