Baltimore Ravens activate Jameel McClain from PUP

Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Jameel McClain (53) during a game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Baltimore Ravens won 25-15. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Jameel McClain was placed on the PUP list with a neck injury, and he has been making some real progress for a couple of weeks. Things started to really move in McClain’s favor earlier this week, as he was cleared to practice on Wednesday and got his first action in ever since injuring his spinal cord late last season. Now, the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Ravens have activated Jameel McClain from the reserve/PUP to the 53-man roster.

McClain recorded 78 tackles and recovered a fumble in 13 games last season, and the spinal cord injury is the only injury McClain has had in his career that has costed him games. He played in all 16 games from 2008-2011, with all of those seasons coming with the Baltimore Ravens. Getting McClain back in the fold will make the Ravens run defense that much more stout, and he will start next to Daryl Smith once he is 100%.

I expect the Ravens to use McClain as a backup in his first game back, and it will be interesting to see how much he plays in tomorrow’s big rivalry game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 28-year-old Syracuse product was activated today for a reason, and I want to see what he can do against Le’Veon Bell and the Steelers running game.

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