Logo

Ravens Elevate WR Hidden Gem to Active Roster After Steelers Offer to Steal Him

Baltimore, MD – 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ urgent search for a George Pickens replacement nearly landed them a wide receiver from across the division. But the Baltimore Ravens weren’t about to let him slip away.

According to multiple reports, the Steelers expressed interest in signing Keith Kirkwood off Baltimore’s practice squad after Pickens’ season-ending injury. By league rules, Kirkwood could have been added directly to Pittsburgh’s 53-man roster if he accepted the offer.

Instead, the Ravens responded decisively—elevating Kirkwood to their own active roster on Tuesday. The move protects the 29-year-old and ensures he’ll remain in Baltimore for at least three weeks as he now secures a full roster spot.

Kirkwood’s career path has been anything but ordinary. Undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, he joined the New Orleans Saints as a free agent and quickly proved himself by scoring two touchdowns as a rookie. He later re-signed with the Carolina Panthers, where he continued to shuttle between the active roster and practice squad, seeing sporadic snaps but earning praise for his durability and professionalism. Over his career, he has appeared in 34 games, recording 24 receptions for 294 yards and 3 touchdowns. Off the field, Kirkwood is also known as a selfless teammate and a reliable option on special teams.

In the run-up to the 2025 season, Kirkwood drew interest from multiple teams, but he chose to sign with the Ravens for a bigger opportunity in the AFC North. In Baltimore, he practiced behind Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor, wearing No. 18, while also taking on additional responsibilities on special teams.

Now, with the Steelers circling, the Ravens made the call to keep him in-house. For Kirkwood, it’s a chance to prove himself on the active roster; for the Ravens, it’s about protecting a trusted veteran and preventing a hated AFC North rival from poaching him at a moment of weakness.

53 views
Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side