Former Ravens player and executive O.J. Brigance died Monday after a 19-year battle with ALS, the team announced. Brigance was 56.
“We are devastated by the awful news that we have lost O.J. Brigance,” Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in a statement. “O.J. was a beloved legend, mentor and man to everyone fortunate enough to know him. He was a vibrant person who became one of the first Ravens heroes with his passionate play, including the first tackle in the 2000 Super Bowl.
“Known for his big smile and welcoming nature, it was easy to feel a special connection with O.J. from the moment you met him. His infectious smile and the inspirational way he lived and played endeared him to everyone he touched, both inside our building and across this city.
“This is a tremendously sad day for Baltimore. O.J. will be remembered for his service to our community, to the Ravens and to the fight to find a cure for ALS. With heavy hearts, the Ravens organization extends our deepest condolences to Chanda and the entire Brigance family. We are saddened by this loss, and O.J.'s spirit will remain part of this community forever.”
Brigance, a Houston native, originally landed in Baltimore with the Canadian Football League’s Stallions and helped the team win the 1995 Grey Cup championship. He later played linebacker and was a core special teams player on the Ravens’ Super Bowl-winning team in 2000. Brigance set the tone with the first tackle of Super Bowl XXXV.
His seven-year NFL career ended following the 2002 season, but he returned to the Ravens in a front-office role in player engagement. Brigance was recognized by the NFL, earning the Best Overall Player Development Program award for two consecutive years (2005-06).
He was diagnosed with ALS in 2007, and he and his wife, Chanda, established the Brigance Brigade Foundation, a nonprofit that has raised money and awareness for the fight against ALS. The foundation has worked to improve the quality of life for people living with ALS and their families by providing access to support services, needed equipment and resource guidance.
“He was a hero to this city long before his courageous battle with ALS and became an even greater inspiration in the way he faced it with the same fight, faith and grace he brought to the football field,” Ravens executive vice president Ozzie Newsome said in a statement. “O.J.'s service to our community, to the Ravens and the fight for a cure for ALS will never be forgotten. He was and always will be a beloved mentor and man. With heartfelt sorrow, we extend our deepest sympathies to Chanda and the Brigance family.”
Ravens Clips
The Ravens are healthier in their secondary this week.
Cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins returned to practice for the AFC North club. Head coach Jesse Minter suggested late last week that the two players were on track to get back on the field.
Humphrey left last Wednesday’s practice with an injury while Wiggins had to be carted off the field during last Tuesday’s session. They are expected to join Chidobe Awuzie as the team’s top three corners to start the regular season.
Bilhal Kone, T.J. Tampa and Keyon Martin started at corner for the Ravens in their preseason opener. They will be in Minnesota on Saturday for their second game of the summer.
The Ravens signed running back Jonathan Ward on Sunday, the team announced.
The Ravens had an open roster spot after offensive tackle Kendall Lamm retired on Friday and needed depth at running back with Rasheen Ali out with an undisclosed injury. Adam Randall, Elijah Tau-Toliver and Dontae McMillan were the only running backs dressed for the first preseason game.
Ward, 28, signed with the Ravens’ practice squad on Dec. 2 but did not appear in a game.
He entered the NFL in 2020 as an undrafted free agent, signing with the Cardinals. He has also spent time with the Jets, Titans, Steelers, Giants, Patriots and Ravens. Ward has appeared in 46 regular-season games, totaling 91 rushing yards on 22 carries and six receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown.
Ward recently tried out for the team, along with D’Ernest Johnson and Jared Chisari.
The Ravens activated linebacker Teddye Buchanan from active/physically unable to perform, the team announced.
Buchanan, who is returning from a torn ACL, passed his physical Friday.
Buchanan injured his knee on Dec. 14.
“This dude has been incredible in how he’s attacked coming off the injury that he’s come off of,” Ravens coach Jesse Minter said of Buchanan last week, via Ryan Mink of the team website. “It’s our job to make sure that when we put him into the football environment that he’s ready and he doesn’t have any setbacks off of that.”
Buchanan took over the starting job next to Roquan Smith early last season and finished third on the team with 93 tackles despite missing the final three games.
The Ravens also announced that they have placed veteran offensive tackle Kendall Lamm on the reserve/retired list. Lamm signed Aug. 3.
Lamm, 34, played 11 NFL seasons with the Texans, Browns, Titans and Dolphins after entering the league as an undrafted free agent.
The Ravens had their top two corners leave practices early this week, but the team does not expect either player to be out for an extended period of time.
Marlon Humphrey had to leave Wednesday’s practice with members of the training staff during the team’s 11-on-11 work. Humphrey’s departure came a day after Nate Wiggins was carted off and head coach Jesse Minter said on Thursday that both players avoided major injuries.
“Both are trending very well to potentially be back next week,” Minter said. “Both just dealing with a couple small things. Got good reports on both of them and expect both of those guys back.”
With the starting corners sidelined, players like T.J. Tampa, Keyon Martin, and Chandler Rivers should see an uptick in opportunities in the coming days.
The battle between sportsbooks and prediction markets continues, in the form of states and local governments attempting to shut down what arguably amounts to unlicensed bookmaking.
Via Mikenzie Frost of Fox 45, Baltimore is suing Kalshi and Polymarket for offering sports betting without a license.
Baltimore alleges that this practice allows the companies “to compete with regulated sportsbooks while avoiding the oversight, taxation, responsible-gambling requirements.”
It’s the latest front in the ongoing nationwide fight to regulate prediction markets, which in theory are exclusively within the purview of the federal government.
And the issue won’t be going away, until the Supreme Court inevitably rules on it. Prediction markets are booming, to the extent that leading sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel are pivoting to prediction markets as a way to expand the customer base in states that have yet to legalize sports betting.
Both companies had disappointing earnings for the second quarter of 2026, due in part to a drop in sportsbook revenue. And because prediction markets are operating in all 50 states with a minimum age of 18, not 21, there are plenty of potential suckers, I mean “customers,” who are too young and inexperienced to realize that the lure of getting rich quick is a siren’s song that will cause them to crash their bank accounts into the rocks of reality.
It’s a problem. And it’s not going away, thanks to insufficient regulation that has resulted in non-stop advertising and continuous touting from TV programs, radio shows, and podcasts that pay lip service to the idea that certain people should perhaps consider plugging their ears with wax — before launching into the “can’t-lose” tune that will lure them to part with the cash that pays the various media outlets to push for more and more people to pony up their take-home pay.
The Browns are taking a look at some veteran help on defense.
Tyus Bowser worked out for Cleveland on Wednesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Bowser, 31, last played for Miami in 2024. He appeared in seven games with four starts for the club that season after appearing in two for Seattle while on the club’s practice squad.
Browns head coach Todd Monken has familiarity with Bowser, who spent the first seven years of his career with the Ravens. Monken served as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator from 2023-2025.
In his 98 career games with 28 starts, Bowser has registered 19.5 sacks with 22 tackles for loss and 48 quarterback hits.
The Ravens have made a pair of moves at the quarterback position.
Baltimore announced on Wednesday that Skylar Thompson has been placed on injured reserve. As a corresponding transaction, the club has signed Austin Reed.
Thompson did not practice on Sunday or Tuesday with an undisclosed injury. By being placed on injured reserve now, Thompson will not play in 2026 unless he’s let go with an injury settlement.
As for Reed, he started for the UFL’s Dallas Renegades in 2026. He previously spent time with the Bears in 2024 and 2025. Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle served as Chicago’s OC under head coach Ben Johnson last year.
With Lamar Jackson as the team’s starter, Baltimore also has Tyler Huntley and Joe Fagnano on its roster at quarterback.
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said there was optimism that cornerback Nate Wiggins avoided a serious injury after Wiggins was carted off at Tuesday’s practice and further testing reportedly supported that feeling.
Wiggins injured his left leg and Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that tests showed that Wiggins sustained no structural damage. There’s no word on how much time Wiggins might miss as a result of the injury, but avoiding the worst-case scenarios is a positive outcome.
Wiggins is slated for a starting role in Minter’s defense, so any absence would force the team to shuffle some players around.
Marlon Humphrey, Chidobe Awuzie, T.J. Tampa, Keyon Martin, and fifth-round pick Chandler Rivers are among the other options at corner for Baltimore.
The Ravens are hoping for the best for cornerback Nate Wiggins.
Wiggins had to be carted off the field at Thursday’s practice. Reports from the practice field say Wiggins couldn’t put weight on his left leg after his feet got tangled with wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane during a drill.
After practice, head coach Jesse Minter said there is optimism that Wiggins avoided a major injury but that things are still being evaluated.
“Don’t have a ton of information on that yet. We’ll kinda get it looked at, see where it’s at,” Minter said.
Wiggins started every game for the Ravens last season and finished the year with 76 tackles, three interceptions and 14 passes defensed.
