TE Qadir Ismail among 15 on practice squad
Undrafted free agent had solid preseason; QB Devin Leary back
A familiar name will be with the Ravens this season.
Tight end Qadir Ismail, the son of former Baltimore wide receiver Qadry Ismail, was signed to the practice squad on Wednesday, a day after getting cut and then clearing waivers. The undrafted free agent out of Samford was one of 15 players making up the group, which was announced Wednesday evening.
“The thing that comes to mind is how I proud I am of him,” Qadry Ismail, who spent 10 years in the NFL with five teams and spent several years as the Ravens’ radio color commentator, told The Baltimore Sun. “Knowing the work that we put into it and then for him to get into camp and to have the type of camp that he had just shows his dedication to his craft and getting better. [I have] great appreciation for the Ravens as an organization and I’m very humble and grateful for it all.”
Ismail was one of several players who were brought back a day after the Ravens had to trim their roster to 53 players. Among them was rookie sixth-round quarterback Devin Leary, who was re-signed despite struggling in the preseason and completing just 15 of 28 passes for 95 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in three games.
Viewed as a developmental prospect with a big arm and good athleticism, he is currently behind two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson and 38-year-old veteran Josh Johnson on the depth chart. The Ravens did not have any players claimed by other teams following Tuesday’s cuts, nor did they claim any.
Others who were let go but re-signed with the practice squad included running backs Chris Collier, an undrafted rookie free agent out of Division II Lock Haven, and veteran John Kelly, who spent his first six seasons mostly as a reserve with the Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns.
Wide receivers Malik Cunningham, Dayton Wade, Anthony Miller and Keith Kirkwood were all signed as well. Cunningham, who was a teammate of Jackson’s at Louisville, transitioned this offseason from quarterback to receiver after spending the end of last season on the Ravens’ practice squad, while Miller flashed the most during the preseason after joining the team late in training camp.
Offensive tackle Corey Bullock, an undrafted free agent out of Maryland, and guard Darrian Dalcourt, who was undrafted out of Alabama, were the lone offensive linemen signed.
On defense, the Ravens signed rookie cornerback Bump Cooper Jr. and veteran corner Ka’Dar Hollman, who could factor on special teams. They also brought back rookie undrafted outside linebacker Joe Evans, who became popular with coaches and teammates for his effort.
Baltimore also signed Josh Ross, giving them some depth at inside linebacker with only Trenton Simpson, Malik Harrison and Chris Board on the roster. Defensive end C.J.
Ravenell, an undrafted rookie from Division II Missouri Western State, was the lone defensive lineman signed.
However, with one spot still available on the practice squad, it’s possible Baltimore could look to bring in veteran defensive lineman Lawrence Guy, who visited the Ravens on Wednesday, according to NFL Network.
Guy, 34, spent the past seven seasons with the New England Patriots and previously played for Baltimore from 2014 through 2016.
Practice squads are allowed a maximum of 10 players who have zero to two years of NFL experience and a maximum of six players with unlimited accrued time, with an exemption for a 17th player through the league’s International Player Pathway program.
Tight end Qadir Ismail, the son of former Baltimore wide receiver Qadry Ismail, was signed to the practice squad on Wednesday, a day after getting cut and then clearing waivers. The undrafted free agent out of Samford was one of 15 players making up the group, which was announced Wednesday evening.
“The thing that comes to mind is how I proud I am of him,” Qadry Ismail, who spent 10 years in the NFL with five teams and spent several years as the Ravens’ radio color commentator, told The Baltimore Sun. “Knowing the work that we put into it and then for him to get into camp and to have the type of camp that he had just shows his dedication to his craft and getting better. [I have] great appreciation for the Ravens as an organization and I’m very humble and grateful for it all.”
Ismail was one of several players who were brought back a day after the Ravens had to trim their roster to 53 players. Among them was rookie sixth-round quarterback Devin Leary, who was re-signed despite struggling in the preseason and completing just 15 of 28 passes for 95 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in three games.
Viewed as a developmental prospect with a big arm and good athleticism, he is currently behind two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson and 38-year-old veteran Josh Johnson on the depth chart. The Ravens did not have any players claimed by other teams following Tuesday’s cuts, nor did they claim any.
Others who were let go but re-signed with the practice squad included running backs Chris Collier, an undrafted rookie free agent out of Division II Lock Haven, and veteran John Kelly, who spent his first six seasons mostly as a reserve with the Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns.
Wide receivers Malik Cunningham, Dayton Wade, Anthony Miller and Keith Kirkwood were all signed as well. Cunningham, who was a teammate of Jackson’s at Louisville, transitioned this offseason from quarterback to receiver after spending the end of last season on the Ravens’ practice squad, while Miller flashed the most during the preseason after joining the team late in training camp.
Offensive tackle Corey Bullock, an undrafted free agent out of Maryland, and guard Darrian Dalcourt, who was undrafted out of Alabama, were the lone offensive linemen signed.
On defense, the Ravens signed rookie cornerback Bump Cooper Jr. and veteran corner Ka’Dar Hollman, who could factor on special teams. They also brought back rookie undrafted outside linebacker Joe Evans, who became popular with coaches and teammates for his effort.
Baltimore also signed Josh Ross, giving them some depth at inside linebacker with only Trenton Simpson, Malik Harrison and Chris Board on the roster. Defensive end C.J.
Ravenell, an undrafted rookie from Division II Missouri Western State, was the lone defensive lineman signed.
However, with one spot still available on the practice squad, it’s possible Baltimore could look to bring in veteran defensive lineman Lawrence Guy, who visited the Ravens on Wednesday, according to NFL Network.
Guy, 34, spent the past seven seasons with the New England Patriots and previously played for Baltimore from 2014 through 2016.
Practice squads are allowed a maximum of 10 players who have zero to two years of NFL experience and a maximum of six players with unlimited accrued time, with an exemption for a 17th player through the league’s International Player Pathway program.
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