The Ravens have cleared the way for Jameel McClain to make his return to the field this Sunday.
The inside linebacker was moved to the active roster Saturday, making him eligible to suit up Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. To make room for McClain on the active roster, the Ravens cut tight end Billy Bajema. This is the fourth time this season the Ravens have cut Bajema.
McClain has been sidelined the last 10 months because of a spinal cord contusion and he spent the first six weeks of this season on the Physically Unable To Perform (PUP) list. McClain returned to practice this week and was a full participant throughout the week.
Now that he's active, McClain could reclaim his starting Will linebacker spot. Josh Bynes has started at Will linebacker for all six games this season, but he has been ruled out this week after having surgery to clean out an infection in his finger. McClain and rookie Arthur Brown could both see reps at Will linebacker.
McClain joins Bynes, Brown, Daryl Smith and Albert McClellan on the active roster, but Bynes is out this week and McClellan is questionable with a shoulder injury.
McClain, a six-year veteran, had never missed a game before getting hurt last December. He was a three-year starter before the injury and the Ravens said throughout his recovery that the expectation was for him to return to the starting lineup once he was healthy.
He told reporters this week that he felt he was "ready to go," and now it appears he will return Sunday.
