The Baltimore Ravens designated undrafted rookie linebacker Jay Higgins to return from injured reserve, per a team announcement. He returned to practice on Wednesday as a limited participant.
Higgins, 23,
made the 53-man roster out of training camp after a strong preseason showing on defense and special teams. He ranked second on the team in tackles (10 with zero missed) and third in stops (five), per Pro Football Focus. He allowed receptions for short gains on two of his targets and came down with an interception on his third. Higgins also contributed three pressures, a sack, and a forced fumble.
He took on a core special teams role in the regular season until went down in Week 9 with a knee injury. It was not expected to end his season, but the team placed him on IR and never established a clear return timeline. He was eligible to return last week, but needed one more week of rehab before getting back on the field.
As it turns out, Higgins came back at an opportune time. Fellow rookie linebackers Chandler Martin and Teddye Buchanan both tore their ACLs in the Ravens’ last two games. Higgins can fill one of those spots on special teams and could even see some snaps on defense.
Head coach John Harbaugh said that third-year linebacker Trenton Simpson would replace Buchanan next to Roquan Smith, but he faltered when asked to step into a bigger role in 2024. Another year of seasoning could produce better results, though, and Simpson held up during Smith’s absence in Weeks 5 and 6.
If Higgins returns to the field quickly, they may give him a handful of snaps on defense to see if he can offer anything, perhaps in specific situations. Still, his lack of regular-season experience makes it unlikely that he takes on anything more than a tertiary role in the linebacker rotation.
