While Carl Lawson sat on the open market for nearly two months of the NFL season, he remained patient, knowing an opportunity would come along. It just had to be the right one.
Lawson had seen little "hints" during his eight-year NFL career that he could someday be a Raven. So even though they're 1-5, when the Ravens reached out looking for help and opportunity at real playing time, Lawson put pen to paper.
Lawson signed to Baltimore’s practice squad and stepped onto the field for his first practice Friday. While he won't play two days later against the Chicago Bears, according to Head Coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens believe he can provide pass rush help they need.
The Ravens are tied for the fewest sacks in the NFL (eight). After they traded Odafe Oweh to the Los Angeles Chargers, fellow outside linebacker Tavius Robinson suffered a broken foot in the next game.
"Looks like he's in good shape," Harbaugh said. "We've played against him a lot. We have a lot of respect for him. A really good guy, too. A smart, experienced player. So that's a good thing."
Lawson, who had five sacks in 15 games with the Dallas Cowboys last season, said there were other opportunities for him to play earlier this season, but he passed them up.
While Lawson is joining the Ravens midway through the season, he's had a Baltimore connection for quite some time. He competed against the Ravens in the AFC North as a Cincinnati Bengal for his first four seasons.
While he was a Bengal, and in the years since, Lawson trained with Ravens Pass Rush Coach Chuck Smith. Lawson also has several friends on the team: Ronnie Stanley, John Jenkins, and Josh Tupou.
Lawson looked up to former Ravens pass rushers Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil and said he's been a "big fan" of Kyle Van Noy for a long time. Van Noy came to Baltimore four games into the 2023 season and has had some of the best years of his career in his 30s. Lawson, who turned 30 years old in June, is looking to do the same.
"I think with every opportunity you get every single year, I think you should always want to get better, whether or not you're an older player, vet, young guy," Lawson said. "I've seen [Van Noy] from afar and I told him today, I was like, 'Yeah, man, I love to see it.'"
Lawson has dealt with injuries, including a 2021 Achilles tear just months after inking a three-year, $45 million deal with the New York Jets. Now he's had a full healthy offseason and feels ready to make a difference.
"I can do everything at a high, high level," Lawson said. "My thing is just always just being healthy and consistent with that part of it."
Tyler Huntley Treating Bears Like a 'One-Week Super Bowl'
Ravens backup quarterback Tyler Huntley is no stranger to stepping in for Lamar Jackson against the Bears.
The last time these two teams met in 2021 in Chicago, Huntley found out the morning of the game as he was walking to the buses that he was going to be the starter with Jackson too ill to play.
Huntley still has fond memories of that 16-13 Ravens win, in which he completed a 29-yard pass to Sammy Watkins with 33 seconds left to set up Baltimore's game-winning touchdown on the next play. Even a chilly wind at the Ravens' Under Armour Performance Center Friday reminded Huntley of Chicago.
But if he's called upon again against the Bears Sunday, it will be different circumstances with the Ravens 1-5 and riding a four-game losing streak, and against a new Bears team that's hot with a four-game winning streak and a defense that leads the league in takeaways. Throw out the history.
"[They're] another team, just like everybody on the schedule," Huntley said. "[I am] just treating it as a one-week Super Bowl. [We have] to be prepared to get a win."
Harbaugh Sees a Mike Green 'Breakthrough' Coming
Rookie outside linebacker Mike Green has yet to record his first sack through his first six games, but Harbaugh sees a player close to making more impact plays.
While the Ravens are excited about what Lawson could bring, Green will continue to be a key player with Oweh gone and Robinson injured. Green played 77.4% of the defensive snaps against the Los Angeles Rams.
"I do think he's ready to make those plays, and I'm ready for him to make those plays," Harbaugh said.
"He's practicing really well. He does get better, noticeably better, every single practice and every single game. You can see it in little things. So, he will break through at some point in time and make a couple big plays for us and get rolling. That's what we're looking for."
Harbaugh pushed back on the notion that Green's expansive role as both a run defender and pass rusher is limiting his production.
"I think that he's a complete football player. To me, that's a compliment; that's a plus-side thing," Harbaugh said. "So, is he going to get sacks? Heck yes, he's going to get sacks. He's going to get sacks, and we're a diverse defense and a multiple defense. I think if you look at his body type, or if you watch him play, you can see he's capable of doing all kinds of stuff. So, that just makes him a better football player."
