Ravens claim wide receiver Sammy Watkins off waivers

Sammy Watkins (Kevin Coleman, Wikimedia Commons)

The Baltimore Ravens have brought back wide receiver Sammy Watkins of Fort Myers, Florida. According to Jamison Hensley of ESPN, Watkins was claimed off waivers because Ravens wide receiver Devin Duvernay of Sachse, Texas injured his foot in practice on Tuesday, and was subsequently put on injury reserve.

Watkins had 13 catches for 206 yards with the Green Bay Packers in 2022. The Packers signed Watkins on April 14 to a one-year contract worth $1.85 million.

Watkins is returning to the Ravens after the playing the 2021 National Football League regular season in Baltimore. Last season Watkins had 27 catches for 394 yards and one touchdown.

Prior to playing for the Ravens in 2021, Watkins was with the Buffalo Bills from 2014 to 2016, the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, and the Kansas City Chiefs from 2018 to 2020. He was part of the Chiefs team that won the Super Bowl in February of 2020.

In 108 games, Watkins has 361 catches for 5266 yards and 34 touchdowns. Duvernay meanwhile has 37 catches for 407 yards and three touchdowns in 2022.

Where Duvernay will be missed is on special teams. A year ago he was selected to the Pro Bowl as a kick returner. In three seasons, Duvernay has 46 punt returns for 596 yards, and 64 kickoff returns for 1637 yards and two touchdowns.

The Ravens are currently in second place in the AFC North with a record of nine wins and five losses. They are coming off a 13-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns, and really need quarterback Lamar Jackson back who is out with a knee injury.

How much of an impact do you think Watkins will have on the Ravens? Due to the fact the Ravens are a run-heavy team, and tight end Mark Andrews is their primary option to catch the football, Watkins’s addition to the Ravens at first glance is insignificant. Tell us what you think in the comments below.