The Ravens have added inside linebacker A.J. Klein to their 53-man roster, signing him off the New York Giants’ follow squad.
Klein has performed for the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Payments and Giants over his 10-year NFL profession. He appeared in 15 video games final season for the Payments, beginning 4. The 31-year-old joined the Giants’ follow squad Monday after the Payments launched him within the offseason.
“It’s been fairly a 48 hours for him, I get, simply from speaking to him,” defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald stated Thursday. “However shoot, he’s bought an important monitor file. He’s been within the league a very long time. He is aware of play. He’s simply in a really acquainted system for the final couple of days. So shoot, we have been simply speaking about a few the calls, and he’s catching proper alongside throughout particular groups. However he can play all three linebacker spots, so he’s going to supply some place flexibility for us and simply wanted depth proper now. After which we’ll see the place it goes.”
The Ravens have wanted assist at inside linebacker, the place inconsistency and accidents have stretched the group skinny. Starters Patrick Queen and Josh Bynes have each struggled this season, and prime reserve Malik Harrison has needed to play on the sting amid accidents to the surface linebacker group. Rookie Josh Ross (foot) is on injured reserve, and particular groups contributors Kristian Welch and Del’Shawn Phillips have performed only one mixed snap on protection this season.
Klein stated Thursday that he noticed a “good match” in Baltimore. He began finding out the Giants’ protection when he signed earlier this week, and he stated there’s a “lot of carryover” from former Ravens coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale’s system to Macdonald’s. However it’s unclear whether or not Klein might be prepared by Sunday night time’s sport in opposition to the Bengals; he joked that “I’m undecided what the sport plan even is” for Cincinnati. He’d be taught that later within the day.
“I’ve been round lots of good coaches and I’ve performed lots of ball,” he stated. “So hopefully, I can convey expertise and share that data and assist the again seven talk. No matter asset or wherever they see me enjoying and serving to out is what I’ll do.”
Over 134 profession video games, Klein has 449 tackles, 15 1/2 sacks, 4 interceptions and eight compelled fumbles.
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