The Baltimore Ravens finally got their first win of the 2024 season on Sunday when they scraped past the Dallas Cowboys, 28-25, and handed the Cowboys a rare loss at “Jerry World.”
But they still could use some help if they are to meet expectations and compete hard for AFC supremacy, if not win the Super Bowl championship.
Pressure on opposing quarterbacks is something they could use more of, and on Monday, they reportedly agreed to sign Yannick Ngakoue to their practice squad, per Jeff Zrebiec.
Ravens are signing veteran OLB Yannick Ngakoue to their practice squad, per source. Gives him opportunity to get reacquainted with defense and ramp up.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) September 23, 2024
Ngakoue played nine games with Baltimore during the 2020 season, and he has shown the ability to apply pressure over the years.
He made the Pro Bowl in 2017 with 12.0 sacks, and as recently as 2022, he registered 9.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits and eight tackles for loss.
On the other hand, Ngakoue had just 4.0 sacks in 13 games last year while with the Chicago Bears.
He suffered a broken ankle in Week 14, which sidelined him for the rest of the season.
While the Ravens’ run defense has been outstanding, they currently rank last in passing yards allowed and 26th in points given up on the season.
Defense has always been their calling card — they were one of the very greatest defensive teams in NFL history when they won it all in 2000, and defense got them their second Vince Lombardi Trophy in the 2012 campaign.
They will face the Buffalo Bills this Sunday before heading west to take on the Cincinnati Bengals the following weekend, which means facing off against two elite quarterbacks in Josh Allen and Joe Burrow.
