Means (Achilles) was placed on injured reserve by the Ravens on Monday, Ryan Mink of the team's official site reports.
Means was already expected to miss the remainder of the 2022 campaign after he suffered a torn Achilles during Baltimore's 42-38 loss to Miami on Sunday, and this move appears to confirm that belief. The 32-year-old was one of the Ravens' only healthy reserve outside linebackers behind Odafe Oweh and Justin Houston, leaving the team with minimal depth at the position until Tyus Bowser (Achilles) and David Ojabo (Achilles) come off the PUP list at some point after Week 4.
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Ravens' Steven Means: Torn Achilles likely
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Means is believed to have sustained a torn Achilles during Sunday's 42-38 loss versus Miami, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Means was carted off the field during the first half of the Week 2 contest, and it now appears he'll probably miss the rest of the 2022 season. In Means' absence, the Ravens don't have any healthy natural edge rushers behind starters Odafe Oweh and Justin Houston.
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Ravens' Steven Means: Exits Sunday's game
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Means (ankle) was ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
Means had to be carted off the field during the first half against Miami after he appeared unable to place any weight on his injured right ankle, Hensley reports. With Means sidelined, Baltimore figures to rely heavily on starters Odafe Oweh and Justin Houston to support the team's depleted corps of outside linebackers.
Means participated in the Ravens' mandatory minicamp on a tryout basis and impressed enough to earn a roster spot. The 31-year-old started 14 games for the Falcons last season with 43 tackles and two QB hits.
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Falcons' Steven Means: Nearing return
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Means (knee) was activated from injured reserve Saturday, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
Means has been sidelined since Week 10 and is set to return after missing the minimum of three games. He should immediately take over a primary role among the team's linebacker corps, as he had logged over a 70 percent snap rate in every game prior to the injury. Means has recorded 19 total tackles across 10 contests.
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Falcons' Steven Means: Designated for return
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Means (knee) was designated to return from IR on Tuesday, Scott Bair of the Falcons' official site reports.
Means suffered the injury against the Saints on Nov. 7 and was placed on IR on Nov. 13. He now has a 21-day window to practice with the team before he has to be activated or he'll be forced to miss the rest of the season. The seven-year veteran's return would be a boost to the Falcons' defense. Means can return as soon as Sunday against his former squad, the Buccaneers.
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Falcons' Steven Means: Placed on IR
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Means (knee) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Means was doubtful heading into Sunday's game against Cowboys, but he'll be forced to miss at least three contests following his placement on IR. Brandon Copeland should see increased playing time in Means' absence.
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Falcons' Steven Means: Doubtful after Friday's absence
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Means (knee) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, Scott Bair of the Falcons' official site reports.
Means practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday but sat out Friday entirely, leading to his doubtful designation. Brandon Copeland filled in for him after Means hurt his knee last week against the Saints, and Copeland will presumably draw the start if Means sits out as expected against Dallas.
Means (knee) is out for the remainder of Sunday's game against New Orleans.
Losing Means is a big blow for the Falcons' defense, and this means Brandon Copeland will be in line to see most of his snaps at outside linebacker. Means had played at least 70 percent of the snaps in each of his previous seven appearances.
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Falcons' Steven Means: Re-signs with Falcons
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The Falcons re-signed Means to a one-year contract Thursday, Gaby Moran of the team's official site reports.
After a 2020 campaign filled with career highs in tackles (38), sacks (three) and forced fumbles (two), Means will return to Atlanta. The 30-year-old will continue his depth position along the team's defensive line in the upcoming season.
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Falcons' Steven Means: Enjoys career year
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Means, who registered four tackles during Atlanta's 44-27 Week 17 loss to the Buccaneers, concluded the 2020 season with 38 tackles, six QB hits, three sacks and two forced fumbles over 16 game appearances.
Means had never started more than four games in a season over his first five active professional campaigns with the Buccaneers, Ravens, Eagles and Falcons between 2013 and 2018. He then went on to miss all of last season while recuperating from a ruptured Achilles. However, in 2020, the 30-year-old defensive end totaled 11 starts while establishing career highs with his totals in tackles, sacks and appearances. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent in March as Atlanta prepares to welcome in a new general manager.
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Falcons' Steven Means: Back to full speed
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Means (hand) was a full participant at Thursday's practice, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Means played through this injury last week and handled his typical allotment of defensive snaps (63 percent). The veteran defensive end didn't record a tackle, marking the fourth time this season he put up a goose egg in the category. Means should nevertheless see plenty of playing time in a Week 16 matchup against the Chiefs.
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Falcons' Steven Means: Hand injury curtails practice reps
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Means (hand) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice, Jason Butt of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The 30-year-old saw his practice workload reduced last week as well, heading into the Falcons' Week 15 matchup against the Buccaneers. Means was able to fight through his hand issue to take on the divisional foes last Sunday, fielding 43 defensive snaps without recording a tackle. He'll have two more practice days to round himself into form before the team makes a call on his Week 16 injury designation for a matchup against the Chiefs.
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Falcons' Steven Means: Avoids injury designation
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Means (hand) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.
Means was limited by the hand injury at practice throughout the week, but his availability for Sunday's divisional matchup isn't in doubt. The 30-year-old is seeing the most action of his NFL career in 2020 and has 33 tackles (19 solo), three sacks and two forced fumbles in 13 games.
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Falcons' Steven Means: Dealing with hand injury
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Means (hand) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice session, Jason Butt of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Means has been enjoying his most impactful professional season in 2020, collecting career highs in starts (eight), tackles (33), sacks (three) and forced fumbles (two) while earning recognition as the Falcons' Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. The Buffalo product has been especially active of late, with three sacks over his past three outings. Means' practice workload Thursday and Friday will be worth monitoring to get a gauge on his status for a Week 15 matchup against the Buccaneers.
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Falcons' Steven Means: Logs pair of sacks against Saints
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Means registered three tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble during Sunday's 21-16 loss to New Orleans.
Means provided a critical defensive spark in the NFC South showdown, registering a strip-sack of Taysom Hill with 11:21 to go in the fourth quarter. After Deion Jones scooped up the loose ball, Atlanta would cut New Orleans' lead to five points eight plays later by virtue of a Matt Ryan-to-Russell Gage TD pass. Though the takeaway wasn't ultimately enough to change the Falcons' fate in the game, Means has collected three sacks and two forced fumbles over his past pair of appearances.
