Veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks reportedly declined an offer to join the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad this week.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday that Kendricks was visiting with the Ravens before following up Wednesday with a report that Kendricks turned down a contract that would have seen him start out on the practice squad.
Pelissero added that Kendricks is “in peak shape now and determined to keep playing” after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery.
Originally selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft out of UCLA, Kendricks is now a 10-year veteran in the league.
He spent his first eight seasons in Minnesota, earning the only Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro selections of his career in 2019 when he recorded 110 tackles and a career-high 12 passes defended.
Once his run in Minnesota came to an end, Kendricks spent 2023 with the Los Angeles Chargers and last season with the Dallas Cowboys.
The 33-year-old remained productive, racking up 117 tackles and 3.5 sacks with the Chargers before following up with 138 tackles, three sacks and three forced fumbles last season in Dallas.
Kendricks became a potential option for the Ravens this week after the team piled up a multitude of defensive injuries during their Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Star middle linebacker Roquan Smith was arguably the biggest among them, as a hamstring ailment suffered during the first half ruled him out for the rest of the game. The Ravens were also without veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who missed the game with a hamstring injury.
If Smith and Van Noy are unable to play against the Houston Texans on Sunday, it would leave the Ravens with rookie fourth-round pick Teddye Buchanan, 2023 third-round pick Trenton Simpson and former undrafted player Jake Hummel as their best options at linebacker.
Kendricks would have provided some much-needed experience and leadership, although it sounds like the Ravens wanted to ease him in rather than placing him directly on the active roster.
As teams become more desperate due to injuries over the course of the season, it is possible Kendricks could receive offers to bypass practice squads in the not-too-distant future.
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