The Baltimore Ravens have released running back Jonathan Ward from their practice squad on in a corresponding move to sign veteran guard Michael Jordan, via the NFL transaction wire.
The transaction prioritizes offensive line depth following an injury to first-round pick Vega Ioane, who suffered a sprained MCL and is expected to miss time after exiting Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Ward, 29, had rejoined Baltimore earlier in the 2026 offseason.
He signed with the Ravens on August 16 after a workout that also included D’Ernest Johnson and Jared Chisari, providing experienced depth amid absences such as Rasheen Ali’s.
He was among the final roster cuts on August 30 before re-signing to the practice squad the next day.
This marked his second stint with the organization; he had spent the final weeks of the 2025 season on Baltimore’s practice squad without appearing in a game. He was never elevated to the active roster in 2026 either.
A native of Kankakee, Illinois, Ward entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan in 2020 with the Arizona Cardinals.
He has also spent time with the New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, and New England Patriots.
At Central Michigan, he was a productive back, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards in both his sophomore and senior seasons while earning second-team All-MAC honors in 2017 and third-team recognition in 2019. He finished his college career with 2,539 rushing yards and 32 total touchdowns.
His NFL résumé is more modest. Ward has appeared in 46 regular-season games, totaling 22 carries for 91 yards and six receptions for 52 yards and one touchdown.
His most recent regular-season action came in 2024 with the Steelers, where he played in four games and contributed on special teams. Throughout his career, he has primarily filled reserve and special teams roles rather than serving as a featured back.
With Ward’s departure, the Ravens currently have no running back on the practice squad. Their active roster backfield features Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, and Rasheen Ali.
The move may also signal that rookie Adam Randall, who opened the season on injured reserve, is nearing a return.
Meanwhile, the addition of Jordan—a former fourth-round pick by the Bengals in 2019 who has 49 career starts across multiple teams, most recently with the Buccaneers—gives Baltimore more experienced interior line options while Ioane recovers.
Ward is now a free agent and available for other teams seeking veteran running back or special teams depth as the season progresses.
For a player who has repeatedly bounced between practice squads and active rosters, the release continues a familiar pattern in his six-year professional career.
