The Baltimore Ravens cut 13 players and put four more on the injured reserve list yesterday, reducing their roster to 70 in anticipation of Sunday's final cuts.
Ravens Coach Brian Billick has made it clear for weeks that only about seven of the team's 53 roster spots are still open, making most of yesterday's cuts merely an administrative function.
Defensive backs Arthur Smith and Ray Perryman, linebackers Amon Arnold, Brenden Givan and Nick Stamper and defensive linemen Trey Freeman and Dave Nugent were released.
Center Mike Mabry, a seventh-round pick last April, quarterback Matt Lytle, running back Dameon Hunter, wide receivers Milton Wynn and Hugh Smith were cut on offense. Last week's signing of kickoff specialist Wade Richey made J.R. Jenkins expendable, and Jenkins was cut as well.
Six of the players waived were rookie free agents, but Nugent had made 15 tackles in nine games last season. Only Hugh Smith played much this preseason, averaging 2.6 yards on five punt returns and 22.4 yards on five kickoff returns, which was not enough to unseat incumbent Lamont Brightful.
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Four players -- linebacker Bernardo Harris (fractured fibula), wide receiver Javin Hunter (Achilles' tendon), tackle Tony Pashos (hand) and tight end Trent Smith (broken tibia) were placed on injured reserve. All four will miss the entire season. Pashos was considered a major coup as a fifth-round choice out of Illinois in April's draft.
The dozen or so players left competing for positions have one more chance to impress Billick and the Ravens' staff, when the team hosts the New York Giants in Thursday's preseason finale.
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