The Baltimore Ravens announced the practice squad signing of former New York Giants running back, Paul Perkins on Tuesday. Perkins played for the UCLA Bruins in college, where he amassed 3,488 total rushing yards, and 29 total rushing touchdowns during his three-year career. Perkins declared for the 2016 NFL Draft after completing his junior season at UCLA. He was selected by the New York Giants in the fifth round, with the 149th overall pick.

Perkins’ rookie season showed promise. The first-year running back attempted 112 rushes, yielding 456 yards. He averaged 4.1 yards per rush, which remains his career-best. Perkins lost touches in 2017, and his stat line suffered. He rushed just 41 times for 90 yards, a measly 2.2-yard average. Perkins’ ill fate with the Giants was sealed in the 2018 offseason, when he was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list after he suffered a pectoral injury. Perkins sat out all of the 2018 seasons and was waived by the Giants in 2019. Perkins was claimed by the Detriot Lions in mid-September but was released one month later. He played in four games and carried the ball 12 times for 29 yards for the Lions.

To make room for Perkins on the practice squad, the Ravens moved Antoine Wesley to a Practice Squad/Injured designation. Wesley, the former Texas Tech Red Raider, was signed by the Ravens this past offseason as an undrafted free agent. He was signed to the practice squad after being waived during the roster cutdown and has remained on the practice squad since.

It’s difficult to speculate why the Ravens chose Perkins specifically. Are they trying to lighten Mark Ingram’s practice load while he heals? Are they trying to simulate Derrick Henry before the Titans game this Saturday? To be honest, we may never know. All we do know is that the Ravens had an open space because of Wesley’s injury, and decided to fill it with Perkins.

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