Chris Moore didn’t just fill a spot for the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. He changed the feel of the game.
In the Ravens’ win over the Indianapolis Colts, Moore handled the kick-return job and made it count. He brought back four kicks for 121 yards, averaging 30.3 yards per return with a long of 42, and head coach Jesse Minter rewarded him with a game ball for the performance.
The veteran wideout was just as dangerous when Baltimore threw him the ball. His lone catch went for 53 yards and set up the Ravens’ fifth touchdown of the day, giving him 174 all-purpose yards in total. Every time he touched the ball, something good happened for Baltimore.
That kind of impact is exactly why the Ravens may need to make a straightforward call on his future.
Moore entered the opener as a practice squad elevation, but he quickly looked like much more than a short-term fix. After Indianapolis opened the game with a touchdown drive, Baltimore needed a jolt early in the Jesse Minter era.
Moore delivered it on the next kick, ripping off a 49-yard return that gave Declan Doyle’s offense excellent field position. Two minutes later, the Ravens were in the end zone.
He also made his presence felt on coverage teams. After Baltimore’s opening touchdown, Moore added a tackle on Colts running back Seth McGowan on a kickoff.
Minter made sure to acknowledge him afterward.
“Major shoutout to Chris Moore,” Minter said. “We decided to activate him for the game, and he had a career-high 174 all-purpose yards…I thought both Chris and Carl [Jones] from the activation list did some really nice things.”
Baltimore can elevate Moore from the practice squad two more times, but after that the team would need to sign him to the 53-man roster to keep him active on game days. After what he showed against the Colts, that seems like the obvious next step.
The decision could become even simpler if rookie wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane’s reported fractured wrist keeps him out for an extended stretch. If Lane ends up on IR, Moore would be the easy candidate to take that spot for now.
For one afternoon, Moore was everywhere. Return game, receiving game, coverage - it all mattered.
He looked like a player determined to make the most of his chance, and he did exactly that. If the Ravens want that kind of production again, the move is clear.
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Ravens Fans Got The Zay Flowers Update They Needed
Zay Flowers early exit from Week 1 raised the usual alarm for Ravens fans, but the latest update offered some reassurance. The second-year receiver is day-to-day after suffering a hamstring injury against the Indianapolis Colts, and the team did not push the issue once Baltimore had built a comfortable lead. It was the kind of precautionary move teams make when they can afford to think beyond one game.
Jesse Minter confirmed Flowers status ahead of Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints, keeping the door open for a quick return while still leaving the Ravens with a little uncertainty to monitor. Hamstrings can be tricky, even when the initial concern is mild, so Baltimore will be watching closely as the week unfolds. For now, the news is as good as the Ravens could have reasonably hoped for after watching one of their top playmakers head to the sideline. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens May Not Have Much Time To Solve This WR Problem
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Even with the season already underway, Baltimore may not be able to let the issue linger much longer. Several veteran receivers are being floated as possible additions to the roster or practice squad, and the next move could say a lot about how urgently the Ravens view the problem. For a team trying to stay balanced on offense, the question is whether help arrives soon enough to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Declan Doyle May Be Unlocking A Different Version Of Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson opened the season looking comfortable in a version of the Ravens offense that asked him to do a little more than just freelance from the shotgun. In Week 1, Baltimore rolled up 506 total yards in a 41-23 win over the Colts, with Jackson completing 17 of 25 passes for 324 yards and one touchdown while adding 40 rushing yards and a score on the ground.
A big part of the shift was structural, not just explosive plays. With offensive coordinator Declan Doyle leaning on under-center looks on 67% of the snaps, the Ravens were able to pair cleaner play design with better blocking and more efficient spacing, and the result was an attack that looked more balanced than the version defenses often spent a full week preparing for. The question now is whether that opening-week formula is a one-game wrinkle or the start of a much different Baltimore identity. [Read more 🡒]