Former Steelers Defensive Lineman Signs with Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are signing former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Chris Wormley to their practice squad after working him out Tuesday, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Wormley, a third-round pick in 2017, returns to the franchise that drafted him.

Wormley suffered an ACL injury in the Steelers’ home game against the Baltimore Ravens in December of 2022. The injury ended Wormley’s season and cost him most of the offseason as well.

Wormley was in the final year of his two-year contract with the Steelers, meaning that he also hit free agency with the injury looming over his head. Before the injury, Chris Wormley racked up 29 tackles, a forced fumble, and 0.5 sacks on the season as a rotational player along the Steelers’ defensive line.

Wormley was a free agent until the Carolina Panther signed him to their practice last September. Wormley played five games and recorded four tackles with the Panthers in 2023. He was not brought back after the season.

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Chris Wormley, Dec. 19, 2021. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Michigan product spent three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before playing the next three in Pittsburgh (2020-2022). On March 20, 2020, Wormley was traded by Baltimore to the Steelers in a rare division trade along with a 2021 seventh-round pick, for the Steelers 2021 fifth-round draft pick.

“I was definitely a little shocked. One, because I got traded. Two, because it was a trade in the division, which rarely ever happens, which is kind of interesting to think about,” Wormely said in March of 2020. “Then excited. A new opportunity. A fresh start.”

Wormley recorded two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits against the Ravens in a Steelers’ 20-19 win in December of 2021, his first game against his former team.

“I told Worm when he got here, ‘Man, when a team trades you within the division, they’re telling you what they think of you. I hope he always plays like that when he sees them,” Tomlin said.

Wormley is now back in Baltimore and could get an opportunity to face the Steelers if elevated to the 53-man roster. The Steelers host the Ravens in Week 11 and play at Baltimore in Week 16.