The Ravens and Brent Urban are back together yet again, as Baltimore re-signed the veteran defensive end Saturday morning during training camp.
Urban, 34, is entering his 12th NFL season. This is the fourth time he’s inked a deal to return to Baltimore after originally being a Ravens fourth-round pick in 2014.
A rock-steady 6-foot-7 defender who is stout against the run, Urban played in 13 games last season and made 20 tackles. He helped the Ravens rank as the NFL’s top run defense in the league.
Urban will be playing, however, without good friend Michael Pierce, as half of the “Fun Bunch” retired this offseason. Urban steps in along other returning defensive linemen Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, and Broderick Washington, and joins incoming veteran John Jenkins and rookie Aeneas Peebles.
Head Coach John Harbaugh said after practice Saturday that Urban gives the team even more depth.
“It came about because I think [Brent Urban] still wants to play,” Harbaugh said. “Maybe he came to that conclusion, and I know Eric [DeCosta] has been talking to him for a few months. He was in the works for a while, and he played well last year. As long as he can still play and help us, he’s a great guy, great kind of guy you want on your team.”
Urban’s length is tough to replace, and he’ll compete for a spot and role in the Ravens’ loaded defense once again.