Ex-Raven signs with Raiders after two-year break: reportGET CROW ALERTS Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share by Email More sharing options 0 shares By Tony Vozza Updated December 11, 2023 at 8:01 p.m.Former Ravens lineman D.J. Fluker before the game against the Titans.
Getty Former Ravens lineman D.J. Fluker before the game against the Titans.Former Baltimore Raven DJ Fluker returns to the NFL after last playing during the 2020 season.On Monday, December 11, BleacherReports NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reported: “Complete return: OL free agent DJ Fluker signs with [Las Vegas] #Raiders after last week’s practice, me says his agent @DerykGilmore.”Fluker last played in the NFL for the Ravens during the 2020 season, where he started eight games. He played 52% of the Ravens’ snaps at right tackle. Fluker bounced around the practice squads of the Raiders, Dolphins and Jaguars in 2021, but has not seen an official game since his time with the Ravens. According to Schultz, “DJ Fluker revamped his entire workout routine to incorporate strength training, cardio and a healthy diet in order to lose 50 pounds.”Fluker has tried out with several different teams recently, choosing the Raiders (one of the teams he was on the practice squad for in 2021), giving the Silver and Black some depth at a weak position. The ability to make a return of this nature after a long absence underscores the tenacity and drive that Fluker has demonstrated throughout this process.The Raiders face the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night, so it remains to be seen if Fluker will be active for the game. Go to the main menu. Access the search form Difficult TO SUBSCRIBE TOPROTOCOLINHeavy.comHeavy sportHard for the crowsEx-Raven signs with Raiders after two-year break: reportGET CROW ALERTSShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare by EmailMore sharing options0 sharesBy Tony Vozza Updated December 11, 2023 at 8:01 p.m.Former Ravens lineman D.J. Fluker before the game against the Titans. Getty Former Ravens lineman D.J. Fluker before the game against the Titans.Former Baltimore Raven DJ Fluker returns to the NFL after last playing during the 2020 season.On Monday, December 11, Bleacher Reports NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reported: “Complete return: OL free agent DJ Fluker signs with [Las Vegas] #Raiders after last week’s practice, me says his agent @DerykGilmore.”Fluker last played in the NFL for the Ravens during the 2020 season, where he started eight games. He played 52% of the Ravens’ snaps at right tackle.Fluker bounced around the practice squads of the Raiders, Dolphins and Jaguars in 2021, but has not seen an official game since his time with the Ravens. According to Schultz, “DJ Fluker revamped his entire workout routine to incorporate strength training, cardio and a healthy diet in order to lose 50 pounds.”Fluker has tried out with several different teams recently, choosing the Raiders (one of the teams he was on the practice squad for in 2021), giving the Silver and Black some depth at a weak position.The ability to make a return of this nature after a long absence underscores the tenacity and drive that Fluker has demonstrated throughout this process.The Raiders face the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night, so it remains to be seen if Fluker will be active for the game.D.J. Fluker wants to regain his early career opportunities Fluker was drafted 11th overall by the Chargers (back when they were called San Diego) in the 2013 NFL Draft. The lineman played four seasons for the Bolts, primarily playing right tackle and right guard. The Alabama tackle was a solid tackle and ironman during those seasons, missing just five games during that span. The Chargers exercised his fifth-year option during the 2016 season, but he became a casualty this off season. The Chargers released him in March 2017.Fluker then bounced between the New York Giants (2017) and Seattle Seahawks (2018-2019). He eventually landed with the Ravens as his last stop. The massive tackle played in all 16 games (including two playoff games) for the Ravens during the 2020 season and was a key depth player for the purple and black. Based on the 50 pound loss report, the device currently weighs around 300 pounds. Fluker is 32 years old and while his legs should be fresh after a few seasons without playing, this is still a remarkable return. If the former first-rounder can get on the field for the Raiders, he’ll still be able to provide valuable experience and depth to a team that might need some stability.Ronnie Stanley has the best game of his season One of the players Fluker replaced as a Raven was Ronnie Stanley (Stanley suffered a season-ending ankle injury in 2020). Stanley has been the subject of criticism and anger from fans this season for his poor play at the tackle position. The hope was that the bye week would give him a little more time to reset and rest. Apparently, the bye was exactly what Stanley needed to improve his game. Stanley responded with perhaps his best game of the season in Week 14, a 37-31 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. According to PFF BAL Ravens, Stanley allowed “only one pressure during the game out of 44 pass-blocking snaps.”The Ravens rotated linemen throughout the game, and according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Athletics, “Harbaugh said the OL’s rotation was partly due to making sure Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses were fresh at the end of the match.” He said it was OL coach Joe D’Alessandris’ idea. I felt like the plan was working.It will be interesting to see if the Ravens take this route in the future, but in one game it seemed to work well.
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