Ravens sign veteran defensive end to active roster

The Ravens have signed defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to their active roster, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, solidifying the veteran’s status in Baltimore after joining the practice squad at the end of September.

Ngakoue was elevated from the practice squad for the Ravens’ last two games and flashed the bend and burst that made him such an effective edge-rusher earlier in his career. He recorded one sack of Jayden Daniels in Baltimore’s Week 6 win over the Commanders on Sunday, potentially putting him on other teams’ radars. Ngakoue still had one elevation remaining, but the Ravens moved quickly to add him to the active roster to prevent another squad from signing him, signaling that they see him as a part of their edge rotation for the rest of the season.

The Ravens already had a full 53-man roster as of Monday, so they will need to make a corresponding move on Tuesday to accommodate Ngakoue. There are no clear-cut candidates on the roster, but both Malik Harrison and Broderick Washington missed practice last week with injuries. One could be headed to injured reserve, creating the space for Ngakoue on the roster.

The Ravens are hoping that Ngakoue’s second stint in Baltimore will be more successful than his nine-game stint in 2020 after being acquired at the trade deadline. He struggled to find a role in then-defensive coordinator Wink Martindale‘s defense and only recorded three sacks after starting the season with five in six games for the Vikings. While Martindale tended to design blitzes with pass-rushers dropping into coverage, current DC Zach Orr has prioritized getting pressure with four pass-rushers this season and giving less coverage responsibilities to his edge-rushers. Ngakoue has been a pass-rusher on two-thirds of his snaps this season, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Adding Ngakoue to their 53-man roster complicates the Ravens’ future roster plans with cornerback Arthur Maulet designated for return from a preseason knee injury and running back Keaton Mitchell nearing his recovery from last year’s ACL tear. Barring additional injuries, the Ravens will have to make multiple cuts to add both players to their 53-man roster in the coming weeks.