Former second-round draft pick Dwan Edwards, an integral part of the Ravens' rotation on the defensive line, was one of three players placed on Injured Reserve Tuesday, as the team trimmed its roster down to 75 players.
Edwards was joined on IR by linebacker Terrence Melton and nose tackle Kelly Talavou, while the Ravens waived wideout Darnerian McCants and tight end Aaron Walker.
Edwards is coming off the most productive campaign of his four-year career. He made 13 starts and posted a career-high 58 tackles filling in for Trevor Pryce, who missed games with a broken wrist and a torn pectoral muscle.
But in Baltimore's second preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, the Oregon State product reported back and arm pain and was held out the following week.
The Ravens also have J'Vonne Parker, Amon Gordon, Darrell Campbell and rookie Lorenzo Williams on the defensive tackle depth chart.
Talavou was signed May 16, 2008 as a backup to Kelly Gregg, and the 6-foot-2, 340-pound lineman showed promise in camp. Talavou injured his left shoulder diving to make a tackle in the Ravens' preseason opener at New England.
Melton, a former Arena Football and CFL player, will spend his second consecutive season on IR after breaking his right hand on his first day of Ravens practice. He was shelved by the Carolina Panthers last year with torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee during their 2007 training camp.
McCants and Walker were both signed in late July.
