The Baltimore Ravens are turning to veteran Sammy Watkins to bolster their depth after another wide receiver encountered injury trouble.
The Ravens claimed Watkins off waivers from the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday, the same day receiver Devin Duvernay injured his right foot in practice.
Reporters at the Ravens’ facility noted that Duvernay limped off the field early at practice Tuesday. NFL Network later reported that Baltimore has concern Duvernay’s injury is “significant” with tests scheduled to determine the severity.
Duvernay was placed on injured reserve later in the day, meaning he must miss four games, which would mean the final three games of the regular season and the Ravens’ first playoff game, should they get there.
Duvernay, a 2020 third-round pick by Baltimore, had 37 receptions for 407 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games this season.
Rashod Bateman, who sustained a Lisfranc injury in late October, was already lost to season-ending surgery.
The Ravens signed veteran DeSean Jackson to occupy a spot on the depth chart last month, and now they are turning to Watkins, who played for the organization last season.
Watkins became available when Green Bay waived him Monday before its 24-12 home win over the Los Angeles Rams.
The former No. 4 overall pick had just 13 catches for 206 yards and no touchdowns in nine appearances (three starts) for the Packers. In nine NFL seasons with the Buffalo Bills (2014-16), the Rams (2017), the Kansas City Chiefs (2018-20), the Ravens (2021) and the Packers, Watkins has caught 361 passes for 5,265 yards and 34 touchdowns in 108 games.
Baltimore (9-5) is also hobbled on offense by a knee injury to former MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. It’s unclear if he will return in time for the team’s Saturday home game against the Atlanta Falcons. He did not practice on Tuesday.
The Ravens scored just 29 points in the past three games (9.7 per game) but went 2-1 anyway. They trail the Cincinnati Bengals by one game for the AFC North lead.
–Field Level Media
