The Ravens were willing to give Trent Richardson an opportunity to resuscitate his career, but the running back couldn't stay healthy long enough to get onto the field.
Attempting a comeback after not playing in the NFL last season, Richardson was released by the Ravens on Tuesday. In his place, the team signed wide receiver Chuck Jacobs, who spent part of last season on the Ravens practice squad. The Ravens had been down to only eight healthy receivers on their training camp roster.
Richardson, 26, was hoping to find a home after being traded in 2013 by the Cleveland Browns, who picked him third overall in the 2012 NFL draft, and then released by the Indianapolis Colts in 2014 and the Oakland Raiders last year.
The Ravens signed Richardson in mid-April after he had lost some weight and gotten into better football shape. But Richardson suffered a hamstring injury in one of the first special teams drills of organized team activities in May.
He attempted to return to the field during the mandatory minicamp, but he was unable to play through a knee injury that ultimately required surgery. He had been a long shot to make the team as it was, with Justin Forsett, Buck Allen, fourth-round pick Kenneth Dixon and Terrance West all ahead of him on the running back depth chart.
Richardson has been rehabilitating his knee while on the physically-unable-to-perform list, but the Ravens felt like they needed a roster spot to add another wide receiver. Steve Smith Sr. (Achilles tendon) and Breshad Perriman (knee) are still on the PUP list, and rookie Chris Moore is dealing with a lower-leg injury.
It's unclear whether this cut could be decisive for Richardson, who hasn't played in a game of significance since the 2014 season.
