The Ravens have waived quarterback Kenji Bahar to conclude their second cutdown, which suggests Lamar Jackson will see at least some action in the preseason finale at Washington Aug. 28.
NFL teams had to reduce their rosters from 85 to 80 by 4 p.m. on Aug. 24. A day earlier, the Ravens released tackle Andre Smith, safety Jordan Richards and wide receiver Michael Dereus and placed inside linebacker L.J. Fort on injured reserve with a torn ACL sustained in the preseason game at Carolina on Aug. 21.
Bahar, a Calvert Hall graduate who had played collegiately at Monmouth, was with the Ravens a couple of times already this year. He briefly spent time with the team in the spring, then was signed while Jackson was on the reserve/COVID-19 list, then released and brought back again after Trace McSorley suffered a back injury.
Bahar played briefly in the final two minutes against the Carolina Panthers Aug. 21 in his only preseason game action.
With Bahar released and McSorley still nursing a back injury, Jackson and Tyler Huntley will be the only quarterbacks in uniform when the Ravens visit Washington Aug. 28. The Ravens have tied the all-time NFL record with 19 straight preseason wins.
Jackson has not played in either of the first two preseason games. Head coach John Harbaugh has traditionally used the third preseason as the closest thing to a dress rehearsal for the regular season, with starters getting their most extensive action of the preseason.
Asked after practice on Aug. 24 whether he would play against Washington, Jackson said, “That’s up to Coach. I would love to play, get out there with my guys, but that’s Coach’s decision. I’m with him, whatever he decides.”
Three days after the preseason finale, the Ravens must make their final cutdown, trimming the roster from 80 to 53 players by 4 p.m. on Aug. 31.
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