Ravens Elevate Gordon, Mustipher From Practice Squad

SEPT 17 GORDON AND MUSTIPHER JOIN CLUB The Ravens announced on Saturday that they have elevated running back Melvin Gordon and center Sam Mustipher from the practice squad ahead of the Week 2 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.

The 30-year-old Gordon was a first-round pick by the Chargers in the 2015 NFL Draft and was with the Ravens in the offseason before being a victim of the 53-man final roster cuts. Gordon's services are necessary due to the season-ending Achilles injury to Ravens RB1, J.K. Dobbins suffered in Week 1.

Mustipher was signed for depth after starting center Tyler Linderbaum was injured against the Texans in Week 1.

SEPT 15 TUOHY FAMILY RESPONDS TO MICHAEL OHER CLAIMS The Tuohy family has filed a legal response to claims from former Ravens offensive lineman Michael Oher regarding their dramatized relationship depicted in the 2009 film "The Blind Side." Penned by their representatives, the statement once again denies claims from Oher that the family unfairly profited from the film's box office receipts and also carries an offer to terminate the conservatorship established in Oher's name with his consent.

"When it became clear that the petitioner could not consider going to the University of Mississippi ("Ole Miss") as a result of living with the Respondents, the NCAA made it clear that the only way he could attend Ole Miss" was if Oher was somehow part of the family," the response, obtained by Michael A. Fletcher of ESPN, reads in part. "Conservatorship was the tool chosen to accomplish this goal."

The response also claims that the Tuohys never told Oher that they planned to legally adopt him though admitted to using the term in a "colloquial sense."

"They never intended that (adoption) reference to be viewed with legal implication," the response said.

SEPT 14 RAVENS FAN INVOLVED IN FEDEXFIELD VIRAL VIDEO SPEAKS Martino Ancora, a Ravens fan who went viral due to an incident in the stands at FedExField on Sunday, has broken his silence. Video taken from the stands in the Washington Commanders' home stadium depicted Ancora, clad in a No. 52 Ray Lewis Ravens jersey, being sucker punched by another fan while his arms were being held back. Ancora was nonetheless arrested for charges of trespassing, disorderly conduct, and 2nd-degree assault by Prince George’s County Police and escorted out of the game between Washington and the Arizona Cardinals.

Speaking with Shomari Stone of Fox 5 DC, Ancora insisted he was the victim, not the perpetrator.

"I was there at the game with my girlfriend. I was being a spectator. She's a fan of the Commanders," Ancora told Stone. "I was just there supporting her on opening day. I was cheering for the Commanders as I'm in the row, there's a guy a row ahead of me."

"He started being disrespectful with his words, and as you can see on the video, he pushed me first and as he pushed me I tried to lean in, and I was gonna push him back, but before I could push them back, the guy in our row actually rushed the whole aisle and knocked us all on to the ground."

Ancora will have a court date in the coming weeks and plans to challenge the charges. 

SEPT 13 MARK ANDREWS RETURNS TO PRACTICE In the midst of seemingly endless dreary queries about Charm City health incidents, the Baltimore Ravens may finally be getting some good news on the medical front.

On an afternoon when four starters (Marlon Humphrey, Tyler Linderbaum, Ronnie Stanley, Marcus Williams) sat for the Ravens, Andrew returned to the practice field as the team prepares to open divisional play against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS). Andrews (quad) did not play Baltimore's season-opening victory over Houston and stood as one of the final additions to the Ravens' inactive list. Ravens tight ends were mostly quiet in the 25-9 victory: Isaiah Likely had a single four-yard reception on two targets while Charlie Kolar was targeted once.

SEPT 12 RAVENS ADD DURON HARMON TO PRACTICE SQUAD In addition to adding Daryl Worley to its 53-man roster, the Ravens added 10-year NFL veteran Duron Harmon to the team's practice squad on Tuesday. Worley and Harmon are the latest measures brought in in the wake of Marcus Williams' potentially lengthy injury sustained in Sunday's win over Houston.

Harmon, 32, spent last season with the Las Vegas Raiders, earning 86 tackles, five pass breakups, and two forced fumbles and interceptions. The Rutgers alum is perhaps best known for his seven-year tenure with the New England Patriots (2013-19), where he gained the nickname "The Closer" for his uncanny ability to earn interceptions late in games. Harmon earned three Super Bowl rings with the Patriots, the most recent coming after the 2018 season. 

In a corresponding move, preseason star Tae Hayes was released from the practice squad. 

SEPT 11 WILLIAMS INJURY 'MAY NOT' BE SEASON-ENDING' The Baltimore Ravens' Week 1 triumph over the Houston Texans was a painful affair: the team is already preparing to move on without running back J.K. Dobbins for the season and head coach John Harbaugh said on Monday said that the team will be without defender Marcus Williams "for a while." 

"Marcus has a pec injury. He's talking and consulting with doctors right now," Harbaugh said. "It may not be a season-ender, though. There are different options that he has, so we'll keep you updated on that, soon, because he'll have to make a decision soon on a possible surgery there."

Injuries have been an unfortunate recurring theme in the modern stages of Williams' Ravens career: shortly after signing a five-year, $70 million contract, he suffered a wrist ailment that cost him eight games last season. Williams was credited with four tackles in the 25-9 win over the Texans prior to his departure.

SEPT 8 HARBAUGH GETS PUNNY TO CLEAR BATEMAN While the Baltimore Ravens and their fans hold their breath when it comes to Odell Beckham Jr.'s status for Sunday against the Houston Texans, head coach Jim Harbaugh was comfortable enough to break puns to comment on the status of another catcher, Rashod Bateman.

“He looks full speed ready to go," Harbaugh said. "It means so much to him. He was very frustrated with the fact that thing kind of just kept lingering and lingering and he was not able to kind of put it behind him.”

A promising start to Bateman's sophomore season went by the wayside when a foot injury canceled it prematurely. Harbaugh praised Bateman for "being able to put his foot down" when it came to being able to complete the final steps of his rehabilitation.

“He did a great job, he really did,” Harbaugh said. “I’m kind of proud of him and I’m excited about him too. I want to see how he does ... Guys aren't going to bat a thousand out there but they're going to go out there and play. It's going to be interesting and fun to watch."

Bateman earned 226 yards on eight receptions, two of which went for scores, over his first three games of last season. 

SEPT 7 OBJ OK? New Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. wants to @explode'' back onto the NFL scene after having missed the entirety of the 2022 season due to a knee injury.

But is OBJ - not to mention star tight end Mark Andrews - going to be ready to "explode'' in the Week 1 opener against the Houston Texans?

Beckham has been added to the Ravens injury report with an ankle injury. And standout tight end Mark Andrews is also on the injury report with a quad problem that has limited him for two straight days.

Friday is a big day for readiness. We will monitor.

SEPTEMBER 6 OBJ 'READY TO GO,' NO SNAP COUNT PLANNED Barring unforeseen developments, Odell Beckham Jr. appears to be a full go for his first gridiron action in nearly 19 full months. As the Ravens prepare for the Houston Texans' visit on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), head coach John Harbaugh hinted at no restrictions upon the newly-minted Baltimore catcher.

""We haven't had that conversation," Harbaugh said, per Clifton Brown on the official team site. "It's going to be part and parcel of the gameplan and the personnel groups that go on the field, but he's ready to go."

Beckham did not partake in any preseason games but there are high hopes for his entry into the Baltimore roster, which is also set to welcome in Zay Flowers from the draft and Rashod Bateman back from injury in its aerial arsenal,

SEPTEMBER 4 ANDREWS MISSES PRACTICE, HARBAUGH DISCONNECTS 'PANIC BUTTON' Labor Day remained a vacation for Mark Andrews, as the tight end missed Monday's practice as the Ravens prepared for Sunday's season opener against the Houston Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS). Sensing the coming discomfort amongst the fanbase as Andrews continues to deal with an undisclosed injury, head coach John Harbaugh provided a hopeful update afterward.

"Do not push the panic button," a smiling Harbaugh said. "We should see him out there Wednesday." 

Andrews is once again expected to be a major factor in Baltimore's offense, having amassed 4,313 yards and 34 scores in his first five seasons, good for third and second respectively in the NFL in that span.

AUGUST 31 JOHNSON, TWO MORE BACK ON 53 AFTER IR MOVES The seemingly never-ending Josh Johnson story is set to continue, as the journeyman thrower has been re-added to the Ravens' 53-man roster after he was a part of the team's final camp cuts.

Johnson's return is part of a flurry of roster moves the Ravens announced on Thursday: the team also placed Kevon Seymour and Brent Urban on the active roster and situated running back Keaton Mitchell and defenders Malik Hamm and Pepe Williams on injured reserve.

The headlining move is the return of Johnson, who continues a lengthy and well-traveled NFL career that began in Tampa Bay in 2008. He started all three preseason games for the Ravens during their summer exhibition slate and posted a 125.6 passer rating in that span. He'll likely serve as the Ravens' backup for Lamar Jackson come their Week 1 showdown against the Houston Texans with regular second man Tyler Huntley rehabbing from a hamstring injury.

AUGUST 29 TAYLOR OUT As the Ravens prepare for the season opener against the Texans, word comes out that disgruntled Colts running back has joined Indianapolis ahead of Week 1. But good news for the Colts' early opponents, as Taylor will remain on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

That means he'll miss the Week 3 tilt against the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. This keeps him from playing for a minimum of four weeks, even if he’s traded. He might still be traded, but he can’t play through Week 4. 

AUGUST 21 MNF SHAKEUP Scott Van Pelt has been announced as the new studio host of ESPN's Monday Night Countdown. He will be joined by Ryan Clark and Marcus Spears, while Robert Griffin III, Michelle Beisner-Buck, Larry Fitzgerald, and Alex Smith will also contribute to the show.

RGIII and Spears, both former Ravens, will be ones to watch for Baltimore fans.

AUG 20 COACH FROM ORIGINAL RAVENS DIES AT 85 The Philadelphia Eagles announced the passing of linebacker Maxie Baughan - who later served on the original Baltimore Ravens' coaching staff - at the age of 85 over the weekend. Baughan was an All-American linebacker at Georgia Tech before embarking on a 12-year NFL tenure (1960-70, 1974) mostly spent with the Philadelphia Eagles.

After earning nine Pro Bowl invites, Baughan was a sideline staple for over two decades, which included stints as a defensive coordinator with the Baltimore Colts, Detroit Lions, and his alma mater Georgia Tech. The Ravens served as the final stop in that journey, as he coached linebackers from the team's inception in 1996 through 1998. 

“Maxie is one of the most legendary figures in our program’s history and a shining example of what a Tech Man is," second-year Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key said of Baughan. "We are heartbroken by his passing.'

AUG 18 SHARPE MOVE? Stephen A. Smith is now saying the Shannon Sharpe deal to join him on ESPN is not a done deal, Smith said of the report, "It's a bit premature. Shannon Sharpe has yet to sign on the dotted line to be a member of First Take. It has not happened yet."

Smith is making it clear that he thinks Sharpe, the former Ravens star, will join the cast of the debate show be eventually. And Stephen A. said so with his usual poetic over-wordiness.

"I'm still confident it will happen. I still believe it will happen. I think it needs to happen. And I have no doubt I'm going to exhaust any means I have available to me to make it happen," Smith said. 

AUGUST 17 SHARPE TO 'FIRST TAKE' Former Ravens TE and "Undisputed" host Shannon Sharpe will join Stephen A. Smith on ESPN's "First Take" as reported on Thursday.

Sharpe will appear on Mondays and Tuesdays each week during the football season. Sharpe left "Undisputed" and Skip Bayless back in June after the NBA Finals.

Sharpe’s “First Take” role has seen the former Raven come full circle. It was his guest appearances on the program with Bayless on ESPN2 that gave Bayless and former FS1 boss Jamie Horowitz the idea to pair Sharpe and Bayless in the first place.

AUGUST 17 RAVEN DARBY Former Bills, Eagles, Commanders and Broncos cornerback Ronald Darby has agreed to a one-year, $3.2 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The former second-round pick from 2015 spent the last two seasons in Denver, missing all but five games last season after tearing an ACL in October.

In 89 games played over the past eight seasons, Darby has registered eight interceptions, one forced fumble along with 373 tackles.

AUGUST 16 VITALE ON OHER Dick Vitale, the legendary college basketball sportscaster, is bothered by the twists and turns of the Michael Oher said, having tweeted: "One of my fav sports stories has now become a soap opera. Really, really sad!"

As Ravens fans know, the retired NFL lineman is alleging that the Tuohy family that took him in raked in millions of dollars while profiting off of his life story - made into the $300 million-grossing film "The Blind Side'' - without Oher himself benefiting.

The Tuohys' legal team asserts that Oher received "an equal cut of every penny they received'' and is calling the lawsuit an orchestrated "shakedown."

AUGUST 13 RAVENS SIGN HAYES The Baltimore Ravens have brought in reinforcements at cornerback after their preseason win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday.

According to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Ravens have claimed cornerback Tae Hayes off waivers following his release from the Detroit Lions.

Hayes, 25, has made his way around the NFL since going undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Appalachian State. Since being signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019, Hayes has played for seven other teams, not including the Ravens.

After starting last season in the USFL with the Birmingham Stallions, where he even won the league's championship, he'd end up signing with the Carolina Panthers for a second time in his career. After Hayes was promoted and then demoted to and from the practice squad, he was released and signed by the New England Patriots in December.

Despite re-signing with the Patriots this past offseason, Hayes was released in June and then signed by the Lions in August, where he was then waived just seven days later.