The Ravens made a flurry of roster moves Tuesday afternoon, shaking up their roster after a 1-4 start.
Most notably, Baltimore waived cornerback Rashaan Melvin and outside linebacker Jason Babin, two players that haven't lived up to their promise early this season.
The Ravens brought up cornerbacks Asa Jackson and Charles James II from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
Baltimore also officially signed cornerback Shareece Wright, who will take the spot of injured cornerback Will Davis (ACL tear) after he was placed on injured reserve.
The Ravens have added three players to their practice squad: undrafted rookie wide receiver Daniel Brown, rookie running back Akeem Hunt and tight end Konrad Reuland. Brown and Rueland had impressive preseasons in Baltimore.
Melvin, 26, started four games for the Ravens last year (including two in the playoffs), but has fallen down the team's depth chart in recent weeks. He was a healthy scratch Sunday against the Browns as Baltimore chose rookie Tray Walker instead.
Last year, after being signed off Tampa Bay's practice squad, Melvin became a starter in the Ravens secondary when injuries crippled the unit. It started well, but Melvin struggled in the playoffs and particularly in New England when the Patriots came back from two 14-point deficits.
Still, Melvin entered this offseason as a player the Ravens were excited about seeing develop. Baltimore valued his 6-foot-2, 193-pound size and confident demeanor. Melvin was in competition for the third cornerback spot behind starters Jimmy Smith and Lardarius Webb, and was even pushing Webb for playing time.
Melvin was set back by a hamstring injury during training camp that lingered into the regular season, knocking him out for the first two games. He returned to face the Bengals in Week 3 and stumbled out of the blocks.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Melvin gave up two catches for 48 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals. He also had two penalties on the game's first drive, and his first of the season, and was quickly pulled from the game.
Babin, 35, was signed on Sept. 15, two days after Terrell Suggs' season-ending Achilles injury in Denver, but he hasn't panned out in his limited time with the team. In two games, he hasn't made any tackles.
Babin didn't get on the field for the first two weeks he was on the team, serving as a healthy scratch. He played just seven snaps against Pittsburgh and was outshined by rookie fourth-round pick Za'Darius Smith, who had two sacks.
Babin, who has now bounced between eight teams during his 12-year career, got a much longer look Sunday against Cleveland. He played 23 snaps, per PFF, and had just one quarterback hit.
Worse, he committed two penalties, including an illegal use of hands on third down that extended a Browns drive and ended with a Browns touchdown two plays later. An* *offsides penalty turned a key late-game second-and-7 into a second-and-2. That drive also ended with a touchdown three plays later, giving the Browns a 30-27 lead with about three minutes left.
On Monday, Head Coach John Harbaugh called the offsides penalties "unfathomable."
The Ravens will now rely on the rookie Smith to step up in Suggs' spot. Baltimore has just three outside linebackers on the roster with Smith, Courtney Upshaw and Elvis Dumervil, who suffered a groin injury Sunday. Albert McClellan could shift to outside linebacker to help.
At cornerback, the Ravens are shaking things up by giving Jackson another try and seeing what James will provide as a new face. Jackson started six games for the Ravens last year, notching 28 tackles and three passes defensed.
Jackson had a chance to be the Ravens' main returner this preseason, but literally fumbled his chance by putting the ball on the turf twice on returns. He was part of the team's final cuts, but was brought back to the practice squad after a couple-day stint with the New York Giants.
James was a star on HBO's "Hard Knocks" as a very versatile player for the Houston Texans. The 5-foot-9, 179-pound second-year player even lined up some at running back during practice and preseason games. Despite his outgoing personality and wacky socks, James was part of Houston's final cuts. Baltimore scooped him up and put him on the practice squad.
James has played in 12 career games, coming in 2013 with the New York Giants. He made four tackles.
