Two former Baltimore Ravens players were present at the XFL’s latest round of tryout practices.
In attendance at the league’s Tampa, Fla. “Summer Showcase” were former Ravens quarterback Ryan Mallett and safety Matt Elam, both of whom are trying to revive their football careers after stints in the NFL.
Mallett, who served as Baltimore’s backup quarterback from 2015 to 2017, threw for 648 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions over six appearances with the Ravens. Mallett’s last NFL appearance came in Week 8 of the 2017 season.
Elam, selected by the team at No. 32 overall in the 2013 draft, is one of Baltimore’s biggest draft busts.
In 43 games with the Ravens (including playoffs), Elam had a total of 90 tackles, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, one interception and half a sack. While he had a promising rookie season, the campaign turned out to be a premature peak, as a fall in performance coupled with injury woes resulted in Baltimore declining his fifth-year option ahead of the 2016 season. Later, a February 2017 arrest for drug charges sealed his fate with the team, as the Ravens (and the 31 other NFL teams) passed on him in free agency. Elam most recently for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, who he played nine games with last season before being suspended.
