Ravens Michael Pierce Hoping To Return To Form
Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce has been through the wringer over the last few years.
The Ravens signed Pierce as an undrafted free agent in 2016, and he developed into a key piece of their defensive line. Then in the 2020 offseason, he signed a three-year deal worth $27 million with the Minnesota Vikings. Since then though, almost nothing has gone right.
First, Pierce opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. He made his return in 2021, but only played eight games due to an elbow injury. Minnesota then released him in the 2022 offseason, and he returned to Baltimore on a three-year, $16.5-million deal. However, he suffered a torn bicep in Week 3 that ended his season prematurely.
Pierce is finally healthy this offseason, and he is putting in the work at voluntary OTAs. After missing so much time over the last three years, the defensive tackle is on a mission to prove that he can still play at a high level.
"I just had a rough two years," Pierce said on "The Lounge" podcast. "It's the 10,000-hour rule. If you miss out on so many things, you can get rusty. For me, it's about resetting myself, being around the team, being around the guys."
Pierce was playing well for the Ravens before his injury last season, recording six tackles and a forced fumble for an excellent 86.9 grade from PFF. Him returning to that form would be huge for the defense this season.
"You guys saw the start that he was off to last year, so it was disappointing to lose him," defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald said. "Having Mike back in the middle of the defense will definitely be a big point of contention for us moving forward. I'm excited to see what he does."
Pierce knows that the road back won't be easy. The injuries didn't just hurt his physical health, but raised some questions mentally as well. Overcoming those doubts will be a huge part of the recovery process for the veteran lineman.
"I would be lying if I said doubt doesn't creep in," Pierce said. "When you do something for so long, it's like second nature. When you miss 30 games, you're like, 'Dang, can I really do this?'
"Before you can actually put your feet back on the field and get back healthy, you're like, 'I don't know if I'm like I used to be.' For me, it's good to be out here at OTAs. We can't go full speed and stuff, but putting myself in those movements and playing really well throughout these OTAs is very, very important for me."
Above all else though, Pierce is focusing on playing as much football as he can. After going through so many setbacks, he is grateful to finally take the field again.
"I'm just enjoying playing football, enjoying being healthy, and making sure my body is ready to go," Pierce said. "For me, it's just about finishing. I'm not worried about anything other than me completing that goal of finishing all 17 games, playoffs, all that."
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