The Baltimore Ravens are heading into the season as Super Bowl champions and that is always a hard task and the team will get ready after their opening 44-16 preseason win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and now will play the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. The team then plays the Panthers and St. Louis Rams next.
The Ravens have added some last minute players to their roster heading into the second week of the preseason, signing Brandon Stokley and Dallas Clark to the team after losing Anquan Boldin in a trade and starting tight end Dennis Pitta to an injury.
According to ESPN.com, the team signed both Stokley and Clark to contracts and it reunites the players with former coach Jim Caldwell, who is the offensive coordinator for the Ravens. Clark comes to the team after playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, catching 47 passes for 435 yards and four touchdowns and now he is back in the fold after being released. Clark played for the Colts for nine seasons and was a very productive tight end and the Ravens needed someone after losing Pitta and he joins Ed Dixon on the roster.
The 34-year-old is a steady performer and despite his age, he made some nice plays last season and could use that as motivation for a big 2013. The Ravens had high hopes for Pitta, but he is lost for the season and with Dixon dealing with an injury as well, adding Clark was essential. The team also added Stokley for more support with Joe Flacco and he joins Torrey Smith at the position and he comes after playing with the Broncos and Peyton Manning.
Boldin has been a big loss for the team as they deal with injuries and they could go after Brandon Lloyd as a free agent after he starred with the Patriots last season and made over 70 catches. Stokley is 37-years-old and he returns to the team he won the Super Bowl with in 2001 in the Ravens and comes in with 384 catches for 5,224 yards and 39 touchdowns in 14 NFL seasons, including 45 catches for 544 yards and five touchdowns last year with Denver. Stokley adds toa crop that includes Jacoby Jones, Tandon Doss and Deonte Thompson and all could get on the field in spots this upcoming season.
"I feel like I can move the chains," Stokley said. "I feel like I can help the club get in the end zone, keep the offense on the field and be successful."
2013 PRESEASON SCHEDULE
WK DATE OPPONENT RESULT/TIME (ET) RESOURCES
1 Thu, Aug 8
@
Tampa Bay
W44-16
Box Score
2 Thu, Aug 15
vs
Atlanta
7:30 PM Buy on StubHub
3 Thu, Aug 22
vs
Carolina
8:00 PM Buy on StubHub
4 Thu, Aug 29
@
St. Louis
8:00 PM Buy on StubHub
