There has been no news about 2025 Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia since the Ravens released him shortly before the opening of training camp. He has options, but he has yet to actively pursue any of them.
No NFL team has signed Pavia. No NFL team has given him a tryout. With 90 players on the roster for all 32 teams and Pavia on the radar screen for none of them, the door is currently closed.
Fresh developments in the unpredictable world of NCAA litigation could open the door to another season of college football for Pavia. If he moves quickly.
He’d need to file a lawsuit. While he has played only four seasons of NCAA football, he had two years in junior college before making the jump.
His argument would be that, like all other players who will be getting five seasons in five years of NCAA eligibility, the same rule should apply to him, JUCO tenure notwithstanding.
His agent has not responded to multiple emails inquiring as to whether Pavia is considering that path. At a time when college programs are scouring NFL rosters for first-year players who could get a fifth year of major college football, why wouldn’t someone explore upgrading the quarterback position with Pavia, who currently is under contract with no NFL team?
Why wouldn’t Pavia want to do it?
His only other options are the CFL (that hasn’t happened yet) and the UFL (which starts after football season ends). Pavia could make a pretty penny by playing college football for another season.
Again, why wouldn’t he want to try?
Ravens Clips
Ravens center Danny Pinter suffered an injury at today’s joint practice with the Vikings.
Pinter went down and the medical staff appeared to be examining his knee, according to reporters on the scene. Players looked concerned that Pinter had suffered a serious injury.
The Ravens currently list Pinter as their starting center on the team’s depth chart. The Ravens lost Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency and signed Pinter in the hopes that he could replace Linderbaum.
Prior to signing with the Ravens, Pinter had played his entire career with the Colts, who drafted him in 2020. He previously missed the entire 2023 season after suffering a broken ankle in August, and the Ravens will hope he hasn’t suffered his second serious injury.
Veteran offensive tackle David Sharpe is back for a second stint with the Ravens.
The Ravens announced Sharpe’s signing on Tuesday afternoon. He played three games for the team during the 2021 season and spent the 2022 campaign on their practice squad.
Sharpe most recently saw action in one game for the Chargers last season. He has also seen regular season action with the Panthers, Commanders, Raiders, and Texans.
Sharpe saw action in 46 games across those stops and he has started six times.
The Ravens cleared space for Sharpe on the 90-man roster by waiving safety Jahquez Robinson. The move came with an injury designation, so he will revert to injured reserve if he goes unclaimed.
Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike came off the physically unable to perform list early in training camp, but he has not returned to a full practice workload.
Jeff Zrebiec of TheAthletic.com reports that Madubuike, who missed most of last season with a neck injury, has been limited to stretching, conditioning and light individual work. On Monday, Ravens head coach Jesse Minter was asked when Madubuike might start doing more work involving contact.
“I think that is both sides really putting their heads together and making sure that we are doing it at a rate that everybody feels good and confident in,” Minter said, via a transcript from the team. “I would say ballpark — next couple of weeks — I think [Madubuike] will be starting to work himself back in there.”
The extended ramp-up time for a player who missed as much time as Madubuike makes sense, but it won’t leave much time for the final stages of preparation if they hope to have him in the lineup for Week 1.
Long-time veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell experienced an unspeakable family tragedy in June, when his brother allegedly killed their mother. Campbell addressed the situation with reporters for the first time on Tuesday.
Asked if he considered not playing in what will be his 19th NFL season, Campbell made clear the importance of football to his overall well-being.
“I love the game of football a lot and it is a place [that] brings me joy,” Campbell said, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN. “This is a very fun place for me to be. And so playing football has been great for me.”
Before that, Campbell expressed appreciation for the support he has received.
“I just wanted to say these last couple months have been pretty tough for me and my family,” Campbell said. “But [I’ve] been working through it and I really appreciate all the love and support and the prayers that have been coming from all over, really from all the NFL community, all the fan bases. So I appreciate the prayers. Continue praying for us because we need it.”
Campbell has practiced on a reduced basis during training camp with the Ravens.
“I feel really good about where I am at,” Campbell said. “The coaches did a really good job of letting me kind of ease in and really kind of get myself where I need to be. September cannot come soon enough.”
Campbell turns 40 on September 1. It’s a remarkable run, given the intense physical demands of the position he plays. He has absorbed and/or initiated contact on every single play — for 278 regular-season games.
A six-time Pro Bowler and a former Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, Campbell is likely putting the finishing touches on a Hall of Fame career. And who knows? Even though he has said he expects 2026 to be his final year, Campbell may decide to make it to an even 20 seasons.
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.”
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.
