Justin

Ellis

Ellis played all 17 games for the Ravens last year under Giants DC Wink Martindale. The veteran run stuffer wound up with 381 defensive snaps. Because the Giants don’t employ Dave Gettleman at this time, the contract is only a one-year deal for the veteran instead of a three-year pact with $12 million in guaranteed money.

Ellis appeared in their Week 1 game against the Raiders, logging one tackle on 19 defensive snaps. He was a surprising cut at the deadline for Baltimore to finalize their roster but moving him between the practice squad and active roster was always their plan. The Ravens also promoted defensive back Anthony Levine Sr. to the active roster.

The Ravens have signed Ellis to one-year contracts for three consecutive seasons but decided to roster just five defensive linemen this year. Rapoport noted that he’ll be a candidate to land on Baltimore’s practice squad. Ellis totaled 358 defensive snaps across 13 appearances and three starts last year.

Ellis, 30, was due to become a free agent later this month. An underrated rotational player in Baltimore, Ellis soaked up 358 snaps (34%) across 13 appearances and three starts last year. He’ll continue to be used as such this upcoming season.

Ellis was brought in by the Baltimore front office in mid-November of last year and obviously made a positive first impression. The former-Raider has been slowed down by foot injuries but did make 48 tackles in 2017. Consider this a low-cost flier who could earn snaps as a rotational defender.

Ellis was sitting on the injured reserve with a knee injury at the time of his release. The Raiders signed Ellis to a three-year, $13.5 million contract with over $8 million guaranteed in 2018 and he’s only started one game since. Ellis will have to get healthy before signing elsewhere. He’ll turn 29 in December.

Ellis missed most of 2018 with a foot injury. The only way he’ll play in 2019 is if he gets cut loose with an injury settlement. Ellis turns 29 in December.

Buckner wants his defensive line to be “active” and to line up all across the line of scrimmage. For Ellis, that means he’ll be asked to slide from nose tackle to three-technique depending on the in-game situation and opponent. Being “active” and versatile is great, but the Raiders need more talent up front after finishing last in sacks a season ago. Luckily, they have three first-rounders to make it happen.

He has multiple sprained ligaments in his foot. It’s a big blow to Oakland’s run defense, which got shredded in Week 1 by Todd Gurley. Ellis is a 334-pound space eater in the middle, and fellow DT P.J. Hall (ankle) also emerged from Monday night’s loss with a concerning injury. The Raiders next visit Denver, where Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay are coming off promising openers.

“Jelly” sprained multiple ligaments in his foot during the Raiders’ Week 1 loss to the Rams. He returns as run-stopping assistance at 6-foot-2, 334 pounds.