Baltimore Ravens Roster 2013: Latest Cuts, Depth Charts and Analysis

With training camps and the preseason winding down, now comes the time for NFL teams to begin to trim their rosters down. They need to be reduced from 90 players to 75 by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday and then down to 53 men by 6 p.m. ET on Saturday. 

The Baltimore Ravens have already begun trimming down, but that doesn't make any of the cuts ahead easier.

Here's a look at all of the changes that Baltimore's roster is undergoing, including updates on the team's depth chart and practice squad as they happen.

53-Man Roster Cuts

The Ravens have reduced their roster to 53 players.

The team has confirmed the following 11 cuts, which reduces the roster to 64 players:

• RB Anthony Allen
• CB Marc Anthony
• LB Nigel Carr
• RB Delone Carter
• LB Brandon Copeland
• QB Dayne Crist
• T Jordan Devey
• T Rogers Gaines
• TE Alex Silvestro
• C Reggie Stephens
• QB Caleb Hanie

Via an official press release and as reported by the Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson, the Ravens have released the following players, which reduces their roster to the league-mandated 53 players. These are:

• S Omar Brown
• TE Matt Furstenburg
• WR Tandon Doss
• RB Bobby Rainey
• DT Cody Larsen
• G Antione McClain
• T J.J. 'Unga
• TE Billy Bajema

Center Ryan Jensen was placed on injured reserve. Cornerback Asa Jackson and safety Christian Thompson are on the reserve-suspended list, with Jackson suspended for the first eight games for violating the league's performance enhancing substance policy and Thompson four games for violating the substance-abuse policy.

Wide receiver LaQuan Williams has been waived injured; once he clears waivers he will land on Baltimore's injured reserve list.

Among the surprise cuts are Rainey and Doss—Rainey seemed safer after both Allen and Carter lost their roster spots a few days ago. Doss seemed to benefit from the lack of depth at the wide receiver position but his inconsistency cost him his roster spot. 

Previewing and Analyzing the Practice Squad

The Baltimore Ravens announced their seven-man practice squad on Sunday, leaving them with room to add one more. The players signed are as follows:

• S Omar Brown
• TE Matt Furstenburg
• LB Brandon Copeland
• OT Jordan Devey
• DT Cody Larsen
• C Reggie Stephens
• OT J.J. 'Unga

According to Luke Jones from WNST AM 1570, the Ravens have released tackle Jordan Devey from their practice squad and signed receiver Gerrard Shepard and running back Jonas Gray, which completes their eight-man roster.

These are rather predictable practice-squad signings. Furstenburg and Copeland in particular could be of significant use to the Ravens with a season or two of development. Holding onto two promising (yet raw) offensive tackles was also a smart decision. We await the announcement of their eight practice squad player. 

Final Depth Chart

Here is the projected Week 1 depth chart for the Baltimore Ravens now that they have reduced their roster to 53 players:

QB: Joe Flacco, Tyrod Taylor

RB: Ray Rice, Bernard Pierce

WR1: Torrey Smith, Brandon Stokley, Deonte Thompson, Aaron Mellette

WR2: Jacoby Jones, Marlon Brown

TE: Ed Dickson, Dallas Clark, Dennis Pitta

FB: Vonta Leach, Kyle Juszczyk

LT: Bryant McKinnie, Rick Wagner

LG: Kelechi Osemele

RT: Michael Oher

RG: Marshal Yanda, Jah Reid

C: Gino Gradkowski, A.Q. Shipley, Ryan Jensen

DT: Arthur Jones, Brandon Williams

NT: Haloti Ngata, Terrence Cody

DE: Chris Canty, Marcus Spears, DeAngelo Tyson

Rush: Terrell Suggs, Pernell McPhee, Adrian Hamilton

Will: Josh Bynes, Arthur Brown, Robert James

Mike: Daryl Smith, Albert McClellan

Sam: Courtney Upshaw or Elvis Dumervil

LCB: Lardarius Webb, Jimmy Smith

RCB: Corey Graham, Chykie Brown, Asa Jackson (suspended)

SS: James Ihedigbo, Matt Elam, Christian Thompson (suspended), Anthony Levine

FS: Michael Huff, Omar Brown, Brynden Trawick

P: Sam Koch

K: Justin Tucker

H: Sam Koch

LS: Morgan Cox

KR: Jacoby Jones, Deonte Thompson, Bobby Rainey

PR: Jacoby Jones, Tandon Doss, Bobby Rainey

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Starters and Injury Notes

Presently, the Baltimore Ravens' list of starters is mostly as expected. However, upcoming roster cuts, players returning from injury and other shakeups could result in changes down the line.

Starters

QB: Joe Flacco

RB: Ray Rice

WR1: Torrey Smith

WR2: Jacoby Jones

FB: Vonta Leach

TE: Ed Dickson*

LT: Bryant McKinnie

LG: Kelechi Osemele

C: Gino Gradkowski

RG: Marshal Yanda

RT: Michael Oher

DT: Arthur Jones

NT: Haloti Ngata

DE: Chris Canty

Rush: Terrell Suggs

Will: Jameel McClain*

Mike: Daryl Smith

Sam: Courtney Upshaw or Elvis Dumervil

LCB: Lardarius Webb

SS: James Ihedigbo

FS: Michael Huff

RCB: Corey Graham

P: Sam Koch

K: Justin Hunter

H: Sam Koch

LS: Morgan Cox

KR: Jacoby Jones

PR: Jacoby Jones

(* indicates injured)

Injury Notes

Weak-side linebacker Jameel McClain is still waiting on clearance from Baltimore's medical staff after suffering a spinal cord contusion in December.

He'll likely start the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, which will cost him the first six games of the year.

Josh Bynes or Arthur Brown will take his place during that time.

Tight end Ed Dickson should be ready for Week 1's game against the Denver Broncos after suffering a minor hamstring tear earlier this summer. Fellow tight end Dennis Pitta, who broke and dislocated his hip, still has a chance to play this year. 

1st Round of Roster Cuts

All NFL teams must get their rosters down to 75 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The Ravens have already trimmed their roster, releasing 12 players and taking their ranks down to 77. 

Here are the cuts courtesy of BaltimoreRavens.com.

• TE Visanthe Shiancoe
• WR Tommy Streeter
• RB Damien Berry
• WR Rashad Carter
• G/T Jack Cornell
• ILB Bryan Hall
• G/T Ramon Harewood
• DB Moe Lee
• T David Mims
• DE Will Pericak
• WR Gerrard Sheppard
• OLB Meshak Williams

The Ravens' official Twitter feed confirmed the last two moves that bring the team's roster down to 75 players:

• LB Jameel McClain, PUP list
• DL Kapron Lewis-Moore, reserve/non-football injury list

Considering the Ravens are presently thin at tight end, it's surprising they chose to let Visanthe Shiancoe go. Clearly, they've been impressed with Matt Furstenburg and Billy Bajema.

The other surprises include Tommy Streeter—who seemed like a good developmental project for Baltimore—and running back Damien Berry—who has managed to stay on the roster despite not seeing much playing time. 

Depth Chart Post-75-Man Roster Cuts and Previewing 53-Man Roster Cuts

Though the Ravens are still two players away from their 75-man roster, the depth chart isn't likely to change much between now and then.

Here's how the Ravens' hierarchy looks before Week 4 of the preseason and a guess at who may be getting cut on Saturday when the team needs to trim the roster down to 53 players.

QB: Joe Flacco, Tyrod Taylor, Caleb Hanie

RB: Ray Rice, Bernard Pierce, Anthony Allen, Bobby Rainey, Delone Carter

WR1: Torrey Smith, Brandon Stokley, Deonte Thompson, Aaron Mellette

WR2: Jacoby Jones, Tandon Doss, LaQuan Williams, Marlon Brown

TE: Ed Dickson, Dallas Clark, Billy Bajema, Alex Silvestro, Matt Furstenburg, Dennis Pitta

FB: Vonta Leach, Kyle Juszczyk

LT: Bryant McKinnie, Rick Wagner, Rogers Gaines

LG: Kelechi Osemele

RT: Michael Oher, J.J. 'Unga

RG: Marshal Yanda, Jah Reid, Antoine McClain, Jordan Devey

C: Gino Gradkowski, A.Q. Shipley, Reggie Stephens, Ryan Jensen

DT: Arthur Jones, Brandon Williams, Cody Larsen

NT: Haloti Ngata, Terrence Cody

DE: Chris Canty, Marcus Spears, DeAngelo Tyson

Rush: Terrell Suggs, Pernell McPhee, Adrian Hamilton

Will: Josh Bynes, Arthur Brown

Mike: Daryl Smith, Albert McClellan, Nigel Carr, Brandon Copeland

Sam: Courtney Upshaw or Elvis Dumervil

LCB: Lardarius Webb, Jimmy Smith, Marc Anthony

RCB: Corey Graham, Chykie Brown, Asa Jackson

SS: James Ihedigbo, Matt Elam, Christian Thompson, Anthony Levine

FS: Michael Huff, Omar Brown, Brynden Trawick

P: Sam Koch

K: Justin Tucker

H: Sam Koch

LS: Morgan Cox

KR: Jacoby Jones, Deonte Thompson, Bobby Rainey

PR: Jacoby Jones, Tandon Doss, Bobby Rainey

Projected Cuts

With a glut of players at safety expect at least one player the position to be released, including Anthony Levine at strong safety.

The tight end and running back ranks will also be thinned. Free-agent signing Dallas Clark is on the bubble after two drops in the team's Week 3 preseason game whereas the presence of Delone Carter may also spell the end for Anthony Allen.

Free Agents the Ravens Have Signed or Are Rumored to Be Pursuing

Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reports that the Ravens have been awarded linebacker Robert James off of waivers from the Atlanta Falcons. He takes up the team's 53rd roster spot after receiver LaQuan Williams was placed on injured reserve.