The Baltimore Ravens have bolstered their roster with two significant additions, enhancing their depth at wide receiver and strengthening their edge defense.
On Tuesday, the Ravens activated rookie outside linebacker Adisa Isaac from the Non-Football Injury list after he passed his physical and was cleared to practice by team doctors. Additionally, they signed veteran wide receiver Russell Gage.
These moves come ahead of the Ravens’ preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday night and follow recent injury updates at key positions.
Last week, the team lost second-year edge defender Malik Hamm for the entire 2024 season due to a torn ACL. While veteran wideout Deonte Harty returned to practice on Tuesday after missing time with a minor soft tissue issue, fourth-year pro Rashod Bateman was sidelined after tweaking something during Monday’s practice.
Gage, a seventh-year veteran, spent the first six years of his career in the NFC South. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of LSU and spent the past two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gage accumulated 244 receptions for 2,491 yards and 14 touchdowns in his first five seasons before a torn patellar tendon in training camp last year sidelined him for the entire 2023 season.
The 28-year-old recorded 770-plus yard receiving seasons in his final two years with the Falcons and hauled in a career-high five touchdowns in his first year with the Buccaneers, showcasing his skills as a strong possession receiver.
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Gage joins a receiver group that, while not overly experienced in the NFL, is rich in talent. This group includes Bateman, Harty, second-year pro Zay Flowers, veterans Nelson Agholor and Keith Kirkwood, fourth-year Tylan Wallace, rookie Devontez Walker, and several undrafted free agents signed over the past two years. Gage faces stiff competition for a final roster spot, with the top five positions largely settled.
Isaac, a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Penn State, has been sidelined since rookie minicamp due to a lingering hamstring issue. He now rejoins an outside linebacker depth chart looking to replace the production and impact lost when three-time Pro Bowler Jadeveon Clowney signed elsewhere in free agency. Clowney had a career-best year in 2023 with 9.5 sacks, the second most on the team.
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In college, Isaac was a consistently disruptive pass rusher and run defender, recording 14.5 sacks, most of which came in his final two seasons, including a career-high 7.5 as a senior in 2023. He aims to secure a role in the Ravens’ rotation on the edge, behind his friend and former college teammate Odafe Oweh, who is listed two spots ahead of him on the initial depth chart with David Ojabo in between.
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