OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Baltimore Ravens promote rider Devonta Freeman to the active roster Thursday after spending a week on the team’s workout roster, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Freeman, 29, joins Ty’Son Williams and Latavius Murray in the renewed Baltimore group of runners. The Ravens signed Freeman to the training squad on Friday, a day after Gus Edwards suffered a knee injury in practice.
A two-time Pro Bowl player, Freeman was cut by the New Orleans Saints on August 31 after spending a month with the team. Last season, Freeman won 172 running yards and got a touchdown in five games with the New York Giants.
In Monday’s first-round loss to Las Vegas on Monday for 33-27, the Ravens split the touches between Williams (12 for 94 total yards and one touchdown) and Murray (10 for 28 yards). Baltimore went with Williams mostly in the first half before leaning more on Murray in the second half.
Freeman brings more experience than Trenton Cannon, who was cut a day after being No. 3 Baltimore on Monday night.
Freeman’s promotion leaves Le’Veon Bell as the sole runner in the training squad. On Wednesday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said all four runners would be used at some point.
“We have four good guys here, and they’ll all be a big part of what we’re doing going forward,” Harbaugh said. “I’m excited to have these four guys. I think we were very, very blessed with the fact that those guys were available when our boys got hurt. So it’s great. They’re good players and they’ll make it play well.”
Injuries have devastated the Ravens ’backs. Baltimore lost three running backs: JK Dobbins (knee), Gus Edwards (knee) and Justice Hill (Achilles), due to end-of-season injuries in the three weeks leading up to the season opener.