Ravens designated rookie OLB Malik Hamm to return to practice from injured reserve

The undrafted first-year pro had his 21-day practice window opened.

A week after announcing that second-year outside linebacker David Ojabo underwent season-ending surgery on a partially torn ACL, the Baltimore Ravens got some good injury-related news on Monday when they designated rookie edge defender Malik Hamm to return to practice from injured reserve.

This designation opens a 21-day practice window that the Ravens have to get him up to speed and either put him on the active roster or place him on season-ending injured reserve. After initially making the final 53-man roster alongside fellow undrafted rookie running back Keaton Mitchell, the Ravens placed Hamm on injured reserve with an ankle injury that caused him to miss the preseason finale.

Hamm is a local product who grew up in Baltimore and starred at Baltimore City College High School. He signed with his hometown team after going undrafted out of Lafayette College where he became the program’s all-time sack leader with 32 and was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year twice.

Prior to suffering his injury, Hamm was having a strong first training camp and followed it up by making big plays in the two preseason games he did appear in as well as the joint practices with the Washington Commanders. He used a flawlessly executed spin move to notch a sack in the preseason win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Against the Commanders in a primetime exhibition bout on Monday Night Football, he recorded a pair of tackles and a forced fumble, which set the offense up with a short field that was made even shorter by a 23-yard return from safety DeAndre Houston-Carson.

The Ravens already boast the most productive pass rush in the league and still hold the lead in sacks with 47 through 12 games despite being on a bye in Week 13. They have 15 different players with at least half a sack and six with three or more. Nevertheless, a team with championship aspirations like the Ravens can never have too many pass rushers, especially since the status of seventh-year veteran outside linebacker Tyus Bowser’s return is still a bit up in the air and to be determined due to his “angry knee” injury situation.

In addition to providing additional depth on the edge of the defense, Hamm will likely see most of his action on special teams if and when he gets activated because the Ravens have struggled with consistency on their blocking and coverage units this season.