Ravens re-indicator veteran safety Tony Jefferson, bolstering secondary with preferred locker place presence
The Ravens will search to a familiar confront to support rebuild the NFL’s worst pass protection.
The workforce announced Thursday that it re-signed veteran basic safety Tony Jefferson, bringing back a beloved locker place presence whose play was an unexpected vibrant location for an injuries-riddled secondary late final time.
Conditions of the offer had been not disclosed.
Jefferson, 30, was signed to Ravens’ exercise squad Dec. 13 and was speedily elevated to the 53-gentleman roster to assist a secondary that lost starting off security DeShon Elliott and cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters to year-ending injuries. He appeared in four online games, enjoying 89 defensive snaps and recording 17 tackles, just one sack and one pass break up when also contributing on special groups.
Jefferson, who experienced performed in just two NFL video games because his former stint with the Ravens ended in 2019, immersed himself in the team’s society as if he had in no way remaining. He touted his appreciate for Baltimore on social media and termed the possibility “kind of something I would most likely aspiration about.”
In a recent interview, the veteran stated he’s been viewing additional movie “than I at any time have in my job,” which assisted him receive just one of the Ravens’ best coverage grades according to Pro Football Concentration at the conclude of very last time.
“Just remaining in a position to be in the locker space and just getting in the league so very long and viewing distinctive locker rooms and looking at how matters have shook out in each and every type of circumstance off the discipline, I assume it’s just an included bonus for GMs or entrance offices,” Jefferson instructed The Baltimore Sunshine earlier this thirty day period. “I believe it allows them slumber greater at night understanding that they’ve gotten anyone in the locker room that can type of keep it tame and managed and set a conventional in there. I assume which is massive when you are trying to build a roster for organizations.”
Right after four decades with the Arizona Cardinals, Jefferson signed a 4-12 months, $34 million agreement with the Ravens prior to the 2017 year. He started 16 online games in 2017, 14 in 2018 and five in 2019, when he endured a year-ending ACL harm. The Ravens produced Jefferson with a yr remaining on his deal, and he sat out the 2020 time although recovering.
He appeared in two online games for the San Francisco 49ers in November, his 1st sport motion considering that the 2019 year, before being slash from their apply squad in December.
The Ravens ended up in dire straits when Jefferson rejoined them and under no circumstances pulled out of a tailspin that saw them tumble from the AFC’s No. 1 seed to an 8-9 last file.
Coach John Harbaugh nevertheless expressed his appreciation for Jefferson’s contributions. “He’s a person of our men,” he explained soon just after the veteran security began working towards. “Tony is a person of our men. Owning him again, I feel it’s a good shot in the arm for all of us, and he can nonetheless engage in.”
Jefferson was delighted to truly feel wished once more.
“I really do not consider front workplaces all around the league possibly considered I was healthier, or I don’t know what their situations had been when it arrived to me, irrespective of the sum of tape I’ve put out for 7 yrs,” he said immediately after the Ravens’ 7 days 16 reduction to the Cincinnati Bengals. “But I do know I received my chance in this article. They know me here. I just required to go out there and showcase that I am healthful and go and play soccer. That was kind of my way of thinking if I had been to get in — just go out and display.”
