The Baltimore Ravens have signed former Pittsburgh Steelers slot cornerback Desmond King to their practice squad, the team announced. King, who visited Baltimore for a tryout last week, was released from the Houston Texans’ practice squad two weeks ago. His signing comes as the Ravens look to bolster their secondary, particularly after losing slot cornerback Arthur Maulet to a calf injury.
King, a veteran cornerback, has spent much of his recent career as the starting slot cornerback for the Texans. However, he was beaten out for the job during training camp this year by Myles Bryant, leading to his release and re-signing to the practice squad. King has only seen action in one game this season with Houston.
This isn’t the first time King has faced a career setback. Last season, after being cut by the Texans following training camp, he was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, his tenure with the Steelers was short-lived, as he played just one snap in five weeks before being released. King then returned to Houston, where he became a key contributor, starting as the slot corner for the remainder of the season, including in their playoff win over the Cleveland Browns.
A product of the University of Iowa, King spent the majority of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers before moving on to the Texans and Steelers. Now, at 29 years old, King will join the Ravens in hopes of strengthening their secondary and contributing to a defense that has been dealing with injuries.
With his experience and ability to play the slot position, King offers depth to a Ravens secondary in need of reinforcement. As he settles into Baltimore’s system, he will aim to provide a reliable presence in the slot for a team aiming to contend in the AFC.
