OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Baltimore Ravens released eight players Saturday, including wide receiver Tandon Doss and running back Bobby Rainey
NFL teams had until 6 p.m. Saturday to cut their rosters to 53 players.
Doss was a fourth-round pick of Baltimore in 2011 who entered training camp last month as a contender for the Ravens' No. 2 receiver job. But Doss had an underwhelming summer and became expendable with the emergence of rookies Marlon Brown and Aaron Mellette.
Rainey appeared likely to make Baltimore's roster as the team's third running back after the Ravens released Anthony Allen and Delone Carter on Friday, but Rainey was apparently hurt by a lack of value on special teams.
Also among Baltimore's cuts Saturday were safety Omar Brown, defensive lineman Cody Larsen, offensive linemen Antoine McClain and J.J. Unga and tight ends Matt Furstenburg and Billy Bajema.
The moves leave the Ravens with 55 players on their roster, but suspended defensive backs Christian Thompson and Asa Jackson don't count against Baltimore's roster during their suspensions.
Thompson is suspended for four games. Jackson is suspended for eight.
Baltimore could look to add to its roster in the coming days.
Injured tight end Dennis Pitta counts against the active roster, but Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said Friday that "things are progressing favorably" toward Pitta being placed on injured reserve with a designation to return. However, the Ravens can't use that designation until Tuesday and Pitta will count against the roster until that point.
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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org
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