The Baltimore Ravens announced their official 53-man roster to open the season on Aug. 30, with many recognizable names but also a few surprises. At least one undrafted rookie once again made the team, while four recently drafted players were released. All NFL teams will put in waiver claims this week for released players, and then the Ravens will set their 16-member practice squad.
Here is a breakdown of the Ravens’ season-opening 53-man roster.
Quarterback (3): Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley, Joe Fagnano
Released: Austin Reed
Perhaps the biggest roster surprise starts at the top. Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano made the team after an excellent spring and summer, continually improving and putting together three strong preseason games. When he first joined the team at rookie minicamp, he was arguably the fifth quarterback on the depth chart, behind Jackson, Huntley, Skylar Thompson and fellow rookie Diego Pavia. Then Thompson suffered a season-ending injury and Fagnano outplayed Pavia, who was waived in July.
Fagnano may have been a practice squad candidate, but the Ravens were clearly concerned with losing him to another team through waivers.
Running Back (3): Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali
Released: Jonathan Ward, Donte McMillan, Elijah Tau-Tolliver
IR — designated for return: Adam Randall
Another surprise played out with the running back group. The Ravens chose to keep just three running backs on the initial 53-man roster, with rookie fifth-round pick Adam Randall going to injured reserve, meaning he will miss a minimum of four games. Randall had a strong camp and preseason, missing the second game against the Minnesota Vikings before returning for the finale against the Washington Commanders. The type of injury is currently undisclosed.
Meanwhile, Ali gets the third spot and will likely feature mostly on special teams.
Wide Receiver (6): Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Ja’Kobi Lane, Devontez Walker, Elijah Sarratt, LaJohntay Wester
Released: Chris Moore, Dayton Wade, Xavier Guillory, Cornelius Johnson, Cortez Braham Jr., Octavian Smith Jr.
Veteran and former Raven Chris Moore had a good game against the Commanders and was brought in to compete mostly on special teams. As a vested veteran, he is not subject to waivers and becomes a free agent, so the Ravens could try to bring him back to the practice squad.
Tight End (4): Mark Andrews, Durham Smythe, Matt Hibner, Josh Cuevas
Released: Lucas Scott, Ty Pezza
This group was set from the beginning of minicamp. Rookies Hibner and Cuevas, both of whom played well in the preseason, will jockey for TE3 as the season goes along.
Offensive Line (9): Ronnie Stanley, John Simpson, Jovaughn Gwyn, Vega Ioane, Roger Rosengarten, Ethan Pocic, Andrew Vorhees, Emery Jones Jr., Carson Vinson
Released: Corey Bullock, David Sharpe, Gerad Lichtenhan, Evan Beerntsen, Nick Dawkins
Traded: OL Diego Pounds (Kansas City Chiefs for conditional 6th-round pick in 2028)
This group was also mostly settled by August, with the small surprise being Bullock’s release. The third-year player has been a developmental project for the Ravens and was competing for the starting center spot. He will likely have interest on the waiver wire but otherwise could be a practice squad candidate.
Defensive Line (6): Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Calais Campbell, John Jenkins, Broderick Washington, Aeneas Peebles
Released: Rayshaun Benny, David Olajiga, Aaron Graves, Dion Wilson Jr.
Traded: C.J. Okoye (New York Giants for seventh-round pick in 2028)
The way the Ravens treated this position group — keeping Madubuike on the opening 53, trading Okoye and releasing rookie seventh-round pick Benny — speaks volumes about the Ravens’ confidence that Madubuike is ready to play. If there were still lingering concerns about his health or conditioning, he would have started the season on IR or the Ravens would have made a concerted effort to keep an extra man for this position. Instead, the best six linemen are here and the Ravens were able to tack on an extra draft pick in 2028.
Outside Linebacker (5): Trey Hendrickson, Tavius Robinson, Mike Green, Zion Young, Ethan Burke
Released: Adisa Isaac, Kaimon Rucker
The other big surprise came with the Ravens releasing 2024 third-round pick Isaac and keeping undrafted rookie Burke. Isaac has played only 32 defensive snaps in two years due to injury but was looking to make it through a healthy summer and contribute in 2026. Burke’s play in the preseason, however, forced the Ravens’ hand. He had six tackles, two forced fumbles, two pass deflections, two quarterback hits and one sack in three games. Isaac will likely garner attention on the waiver wire, but if he passes unclaimed, he is an obvious candidate for the practice squad.
Inside Linebacker (4): Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Teddye Buchanan, Jay Higgins IV
Released: Dominic DeLuca, Carl Jones Jr., Jamon Johnson, Michael Barrett
Buchanan not being placed on IR is another positive sign for a player returning from a major injury. If he is not ready to play Week 1, Higgins will get an opportunity to feature on more than just special teams.
Cornerback (6): Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, Chidobe Awuzie, T.J. Tampa, Keyon Martin, Chandler Rivers
Released: Robert Longerbeam, Marquise Robinson, Lardarius Webb Jr., Amani Oruwariye
IR — designated for return: Bilhal Kone
The Ravens kept just six corners to open the season, although Kone will return after missing the minimum four games. Longerbeam, a sixth-round selection in 2025 who missed his rookie season due to injury, is a practice squad candidate if he clears waivers.
Safety (4): Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Jaylinn Hawkins, Keondre Jackson
Released: K’Von Wallace, Silas Walters
Wallace is another vested veteran whom the Ravens could look to bring back to the practice squad.
Specialists (3): K Tyler Loop, P Ryan Eckley, LS Nick Moore
There will continue to be noise that the Ravens need to bring in another kicker to compete with Loop after his struggles this preseason, but for now this trio is set.
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