OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Baltimore Ravens reached a one-year deal with runner Latavius Murray, who is quickly sinking to fix an injury-ravaged bottom field before the regular season begins, a source told Adam Schefter on Friday of ESPN.
The deal is worth up to $ 2 million, the source told Schefter.
Murray, 31, becomes the fourth runner signed by the Ravens this week, joining Trenton Cannon, Le’Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman. Bell and Freeman are part of the training squad.
Murray, who was expected to earn $ 3.15 million in salaries and bonuses this season, was abruptly cut by the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday after refusing to cut wages.
Murray’s addition comes a day after Baltimore lost to Gus Edwards, who ripped off his ACL on Thursday. Edwards is the third Ravens to suffer an injury again at the end of the season in a 12-day period.
Murray is the most accomplished runner on the Ravens ’active roster and has the potential to become the featured protagonist once he feels comfortable with the system.
For now, Ty’Son Williams, the only healthy runner to have been on Baltimore’s roster before Wednesday, is expected to begin his first professional career in the first game of the Las Vegas Raiders on Football Night Monday. Williams, who left BYU last year, spent last season on the Ravens’ training squad and has no NFL team.
The Ravens have led the NFL for the past two seasons and are confident in their plan, especially with double-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson drawing so much attention. In the last two years, every Ravens running with at least 100 gates has averaged more than 5 yards per carry: Edwards, Dobbins and Mark Ingram.
Murray’s physical style between attacks reflects Edwards and is considered an ideal fit to Ravens’ mouth system. A valuable backup for Alvin Kamara in New Orleans, Murray ran 656 yards and averaged 4.5 yards per carry in 2020. He has recorded 4,991 running yards, 1,294 yards received and 45 touchdowns in his seven years. career.
Injuries have devastated Baltimore’s back field for the past two weeks. Starting to run, JK Dobbins broke his ACL in his left knee in the preseason final in Washington on August 28th. Justice Hill, the No. 3 backstroke, broke his Achilles during practice on September 2nd. , just after the corner, Marcus Peters suffered a knee injury at the end of the season during training.
Cannon, who entered the 53-man roster on Wednesday, is expected to provide depth when it comes to going backwards and have an immediate impact on special teams. The Ravens are expected to promote Freeman or Bell from the training squad just before Monday’s game.
With Jackson, Baltimore has averaged 198.9 yards per game in the NFL, in the previous two seasons. But the only current Ravens runner who had a change for them last season was winger Patrick Ricard, who had less than 1 yard run.
The Ravens have demonstrated the ability to adapt over the years in the ground game. In each of the last three seasons, Baltimore has had a difference runner when it comes to running: Edwards (718 yards in 2018), Ingram (1,018 in 19) and Dobbins (805 in 20).
The loss of Peters, a Pro Bowl cornerback, is the biggest injury to the Baltimore defense this year. In all, the Ravens have had five players who have suffered injuries at the end of the season in a hard 19-day stretch.