The Ravens have officially signed defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to their active roster, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, confirming his role in Baltimore after he joined the practice squad at the end of September.
Ngakoue had been elevated from the practice squad for the past two games, showcasing the agility and explosiveness that marked his early success as an edge rusher. He recorded a sack against Jayden Daniels in the Ravens’ Week 6 victory over the Commanders, which may have caught the attention of other teams.
Although he had one elevation left, the Ravens acted swiftly to secure him on the active roster, indicating their intention to include him in their edge rotation for the remainder of the season.
With a full 53-man roster as of Monday, the Ravens will need to make a corresponding move to accommodate Ngakoue on Tuesday.
There are no obvious candidates for release, but both Malik Harrison and Broderick Washington missed practice last week due to injuries, which could lead to one being placed on injured reserve to create space for Ngakoue.
The Ravens are optimistic that Ngakoue’s second tenure in Baltimore will yield better results than his nine-game stint in 2020, when he struggled to find a place in former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s scheme and only managed three sacks after starting the season with five in six games for the Vikings.
Current defensive coordinator Zach Orr has shifted the focus to generating pressure with four rushers, allowing Ngakoue more opportunities as a pass-rusher, as he has been utilized as such on two-thirds of his snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Ngakoue’s addition complicates the Ravens’ roster strategy moving forward, particularly with cornerback Arthur Maulet set to return from a preseason knee injury and running back Keaton Mitchell nearing a comeback from last year’s ACL tear.
Unless more injuries occur, the Ravens will need to make several roster moves in the coming weeks to accommodate both players on the active roster.
