The Baltimore Ravens are looking far and wide for viable defensive players amid a wave of injuries. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, their search at defensive end includes former second-round pick Drake Jackson, who has been cleared from a knee injury that has sidelined him since the 2023 season.
The San Francisco 49ers selected Jackson with the 61st overall pick in 2022 out of USC. He appeared in 23 games over two seasons, tallying six sacks, 21 tackles, five tackles for loss and one interception before sustaining a patellar tendon tear in his knee in November 2023.
The injury cost Jackson the rest of that season and all of 2024. The 49ers wound up waiving Jackson with an injury designation in May.
Ravens’ Injuries Piling Up
The Ravens are riddled with injuries as they prepare to host the Houston Texans in Week 5. Five players didn’t practice Thursday, including quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring), safety Kyle Hamilton (groin), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf) and linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring).
That’s on top of defensive defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) and defensive end Broderick Washington (ankle) already landing on injured reserve.
The Ravens’ defense has struggled immensely in their absences, ranking dead last in points allowed (33.3 per game), second-to-last in yards allowed (406.8 per game) and 25th in yards per play (5.7). Only three teams have fewer takeaways (two).
Head coach John Harbaugh has continued to express confidence in the unit despite that, saying after Sunday’s 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs that they’re “not too far away.”
“I really feel confident that we’re going to play really good defense this year,” he said, via the team’s website. “I really am. I know fans hear that, and I hope they have a little bit of confidence that we’ve been down this road before a little bit. We do need to get healthy, for sure. That’s an important part of it, as well. But also play with the guys that we’ve got and let’s go play some good defense.”
The Ravens tried to sign linebacker Eric Kendricks, but the 2019 All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler wasn’t interested in joining the team’s practice squad. Kendricks, who had 138 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions in 15 games with the Dallas Cowboys last season, remains a free agent.
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Jackson Drawing Serious Interest
According to Schefter, Jackson has also scheduled visits with the New York Jets and Washington Commanders. But given how beat up the Ravens are, they may be his quickest path to playing time.
49ers president of football operations/general manager John Lynch shed a concerning light on Lynch’s status at the NFL Combine in February, referencing former 49ers right tackle Mike McGlinchey, who’s now with the Denver Broncos.
“That’s been a tough injury,” Lynch said, via NBC Sports. “We found that out with McGlinchey, those quad tendon repairs. You got to really think long and hard before you have that, because it doesn’t just make it go away. If you ask McGlinchey, to this day, probably plays through some pain.”
Added Lynch: “I guess Drake has had, not setbacks, but just trouble from the back end. It’s not been the most encouraging thing.”