With the regular season on the horizon, NFL teams are faced with the difficult task of trimming their rosters to meet the league-mandated 53-man requirement. On Monday, August 26, the Baltimore Ravens made a surprising move by releasing veteran wide receiver Russell Gage, just weeks after signing him.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport broke the news on X, posting, “The #Ravens have released veteran WR Russell Gage, source said. He was originally signed in early August.” The Ravens initially signed Gage to bring experience to a wide receiver corps lacking veteran leadership. However, with the final cuts looming, Baltimore decided to move on from the 28-year-old receiver.
The #Ravens have released veteran WR Russell Gage, source said. He was originally signed in early August.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 26, 2024
The Ravens’ wide receiver group is headlined by young talent in Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, who have combined for only 50 games and 170 catches. Behind them is veteran Nelson Agholor, who leads the group with 375 career catches, but the rest of the depth chart is filled with unproven players. Rookies like Devontez Walker and transition players like Malik Cunningham will be relied upon to step up.
Gage’s release comes as a bit of a shock given his prior success in Atlanta, where he spent four seasons and provided solid numbers as a depth receiver. His best year with the Falcons came in 2020 when he recorded 72 catches for 786 yards and four touchdowns. However, Gage’s career took a turn in 2023 after suffering a season-ending injury during a joint practice with the New York Jets, ultimately leading to his release from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this year.
Despite his injury history, Gage could still provide valuable depth as a WR3 or WR4 for a team in need of veteran leadership at the position. At only 28 years old, he still has plenty left to offer, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him land elsewhere soon.
TE Mike Rigerman and WR Sean Ryan were part of the first wave of Ravens roster cuts.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) August 26, 2024
The Ravens also parted ways with tight end Mike Rigerman and wide receiver Sean Ryan in their first wave of cuts. Baltimore is particularly deep at tight end with Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar, making Rigerman’s release expected as the team will likely only carry three tight ends into the season.
As general manager Eric DeCosta continues to refine the roster, it’s clear the Ravens are still searching for the right combination of players to bolster their passing attack for quarterback Lamar Jackson.
