The Baltimore Ravens shored up the current running back situation this morning, signing former Cincinnati Bengals running back Bernard Scott as the team plays a wait-and-see approach with Bernard Pierce and his hamstring.
The former sixth round pick out of Abilene Christian received a try out from the Ravens two weeks ago and ultimately was healthy enough to be signed and could play a role in this weekend’s matchup with the Cleveland Browns as the #2 RB behind Ray Rice.
Scott, 29, played the backup role in Cincinnati behind Cedric Benson as the starter, rushing for 1,035 yards and four touchdowns in his five-year career. An ACL tear in 2012 derailed his season and while recuperating from his injury, was placed on the reserve PUP (physically unable to perform) list and ultimately released.
While Pierce hasn’t been ruled out of Sunday’s game, the aggravating of the hamstring injury he suffered during the loss to Pittsburgh is an unfortunate setback. If Pierce is healthy enough to be active Sunday, Scott would be #3 on the depth chart.
Scott is a smaller back at 5’10, 195 pounds, but the interesting factor will be to see if he’s fully recovered from the ACL injury and can show good speed in open field and the ability to make defenders miss. But the Ravens understand what this is; a depth move and a necessary move at running back and potentially in special teams where in 2010, Scott racked up 1257 kick return yards for the Bengals.
With the move to bring in Scott, the Ravens are currently set at the 53-man roster limit. Scott replaces Bryant McKinnie who was traded to the Miami Dolphins last week.
The Ravens’ RB situation seems to go from bad to worse. Hopefully the bye helped Rice, who we’ve got to hope was hurt through the first 8 weeks. Otherwise would a horrible contract they signed him to last year. Along with Ngata’s. This team has a ton of money wrapped up in a handful of players – Rice, Flacco, Ngata, Suggs. Of those deals, probably only Suggs’ deal is one in which they’ll get their money’s worth.