The Ravens have officially activated defensive end Brent Urban in advance of Monday’s game in Cleveland, the team announced today (via Twitter). To make room on the 53-man squad for Urban, the Ravens placed running back Justin Forsett on IR.
Urban, 24, was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 draft by the Ravens, but missed his entire rookie campaign with a torn ACL. The Virginia product sustained a torn bicep this year, further delaying his regular-season NFL debut as he landed on IR with the designation to return. After returning to practice earlier this month, he could make that debut this week for Baltimore.
As for Forsett, the Ravens’ starting running back suffered a broken right arm during last week’s game against the Rams. It’s not even accurate to call it the “latest” blow for an injury-ravaged unit, since quarterback Joe Flacco went down with a torn ACL later in the same game.
With Forsett out of the picture, Baltimore appears poised to move forward with its current stable of running backs, rather than adding anyone new to the roster for now. Javorius Allen figures to be the club’s new lead back, with Terrance West and Raheem Mostert also in the mix.
This will be a good chance for the Ravens to get an extended look at Urban in relatively low pressure games. He has really impressed in his first two training camps, but hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Baltimore will need someone to step up as a pass rusher sooner rather than later, as Suggs and Dumervil aren’t getting any younger, and Urban has the talent to be a valuable piece moving forward if he can stay on the field.