The Ravens hated to see Bobby Rainey go elsewhere in 2013. Four years later, they have him back.
Rainey officially signed with Baltimore Wednesday morning as veterans reported for training camp. It was previously reported that this deal was in the works.
The signing came after news that running back Kenneth Dixon may miss the entire season after a more extensive knee surgery than originally expected. Rainey could help fill that void.
Rainey, now 29, started his career in Baltimore as an undrafted rookie out of Western Kentucky.
After an impressive 2012 preseason, he landed on the team's practice squad, then was promoted to the active roster in mid-October, but was a gameday inactive. He never got a carry in the regular season and was on injured reserve (knee) when the Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII.
Rainey didn't make the 53-man roster the following year, but the Ravens were hoping to stash him on their practice squad again.
However, Rainey instead left to join the Cleveland Browns, who released him after Week 7. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers scooped him off waivers and put him into game action.
Once on the field in Tampa Bay in 2013, Rainey took off. In one game against the Atlanta Falcons, he posted three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) and 163 rushing yards. In just nine games (six starts), he delivered 532 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.
Rainey spent two more seasons with the Buccaneers before landing with the New York Giants last year, where he had just 17 carries and caught 20 passes for 153 yards. He's heading into his sixth NFL season.
The Ravens reportedly had their eye on Rainey throughout the summer, even before Dixon's injury. He'll compete with Buck Allen, undrafted rookie Taquan Mizzell and tailback/fullback Lorenzo Taliaferro for a spot on the roster behind Terrance West and Danny Woodhead.
