Ravens Practice Squad Announced

The Baltimore Ravens have released their practice squad list and the few players that cleared waivers and were welcomed back to join the team for the season. There are 7 players total that made it, and the list is what I expected basically.

• WR - Justin Harper: Not surprised by this one, as this was the guy that I was 100% sure would at least make our practice squad after being "cut" by us yesterday. He has shown some serious skill in his ability to get separation and is a big body to have at WR. Just needs to learn how to catch the ball....
• WR - Eron Riley: This is the one player that most of us should be very happy with. Riley is a big time threat and out of all the Wide Receivers who were on the bubble this summer, no one impressed more than Riley did. He is a go getter when it comes to catching the ball and his big play ability that Eron showed against Atlanta must have locked him up a roster spot. Good for Riley, who was undrafted out of Duke. Watch out for this guy.
• OL - Stefan Rodgers: Do not know too much about him, but he leaves us with good depth. He might be the first guy to go if we sign another player to the Practice Squad.
  
• OL - Joe Reitz:  Performed fairly well throughout the summer and provides many options along the offensive line. Reitz can play more than one position and knows the system well.
  
• OL/DL - Bryan Mattison:  Son of Defensive Coordinator Gregg Mattison, Bryan may have made the team because of daddy. Then again, he looked good in some of the training camp practices and looks to be better suited at DL in my opinion, although the needed depth is on the o-line.
  
• LB/DE - William VanDeSteeg:  Do not know too much about the guy and nothing really stood out during the pre-season games, but coaches must like something. He had a nice interception in Camp and always seemed to be around the ball in the few chances he got.
  
• S - K.J. Gerrard:  This is one of the players that most fans wanted to make the team, only thing is that we need CB more than we do S. Hopefully Gerrard will be able to make the transition like Webb has made and can contribute to our nickel and dime packages in the future.
• As for a few other notes, RB Cedric Peerman was claimed by the Cleveland Browns (why am I not surprised), TE Davon Drew was claimed by the Miami Dolphins, and WR Yamon Figurs was claimed by the Detroit Lions.

Congratulations to seven eight players above who ground it out during this intense summer. The team can stash as many as eight players on the Practice Squad, so expect at least one more addition and perhaps some changes this week and throughout the season. Many Ravens players in the past have sneaked onto the team undrafted or through the Practice Squad and ended up being big time contributors to our team. Lets hope that a few of these guys can take us to where we need to go.

Post Publication Note: The team added previously released TE Isaac Smolko to the Practice Squadon Monday.