{"id":19377,"date":"2024-11-28T05:10:20","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T05:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/?p=19377"},"modified":"2024-11-28T05:10:20","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T05:10:20","slug":"practice-window-opened-for-ravens-nt-michael-pierce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/?p=19377","title":{"rendered":"Practice Window Opened For Ravens NT Michael Pierce"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The Ravens have been without veteran nose tackle Michael Pierce<\/a><\/strong> for the last four weeks now, officially making him eligible to return from injured reserve. Baltimore is preparing to do just that after designating him to return from IR<\/a> today, opening his 21-day practice window, per Ravens staff writer Clifton Brown. According to ESPN\u2019s Jamison Hensley, head coach John Harbaugh<\/strong> is even hopeful that Pierce will be able to return<\/a> this week. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This is a massive upgrade over the status report from last week. Only a week ago, the Ravens were reporting that they didn\u2019t have a timeline<\/a> on when Pierce would return, only that they definitely had plans to bring him back. Pierce was placed on IR<\/a> with a calf injury at the end of October, and even then, the team knew that it would not be a season-ender.<\/p>\n

The injury spread Baltimore\u2019s defensive line incredibly thin, with injuries to Travis Jones<\/a><\/strong> and Brent Urban<\/a><\/strong> making it necessary to elevate practice squad defensive tackle Josh Tupou<\/a><\/strong> three times. The unit is starting to get its health back, which couldn\u2019t come at a better time. Pierce\u2019s return could complete a defensive line group that is about to face the league\u2019s top rushing attack. While the Ravens\u2019 Lamar Jackson<\/a><\/strong> and Derrick Henry<\/a><\/strong> had given that title to Baltimore over the first several weeks of the season, some recent impressive performances by running back Saquon Barkley<\/a><\/strong> have earned Philadelphia that honor of late.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s work yet to be done in order for the Ravens\u2019 defensive line to be full-strength against Barkley and the Eagles. Baltimore will keep a close eye on Pierce in their remaining practices this week before anything becomes official, but the good news is that it sounds like a return to the field will happen sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n