Brandon Knight won’t suit up for another NFL team in 2021. The 24-year-old was waived by the Dallas Cowboys to make room for the return of starting right tackle La’el Collins from a five-game suspension this week, but the club hoped he’d clear waivers and rejoin them as a member of the practice squad. They’d lose him to the Baltimore Ravens, however, who successfully claimed him off of the waiver wire on Monday — looking to upgrade their offensive line depth in front of former MVP Lamar Jackson.
Knight didn’t report to Baltimore once the transaction was made official though, and he was placed on the Reserve/Did Not Report list on Wednesday. Head coach John Harbaugh said he had no information as to Knight’s decision, but things were cleared up when the veteran tackle made an announcement on Thursday.
“First and foremost, I want to thank the Baltimore Ravens for allowing me another opportunity to play the game I’ve always loved,” said Knight, via Twitter. “As of now, I’ve decided to take a break from football to address my mental health. Although it was a difficult decision, it was a necessary one to be back home with my family. I look forward to returning next season.”
The Ravens were hoping Knight could step in and help with the loss of starting tackle Ronnie Stanley, who underwent season-ending ankle surgery. A former undrafted free agent in 2019, Knight was signed by the Cowboys and went on to spend two-plus seasons in Dallas before being waived after the Week 6 victory over the New England Patriots, and logged nine games as a starter in 2020 — following a slew of offensive line issues that included season-ending injuries to both Collins and Tyron Smith.
Knight was on the game-day roster for the Cowboys in each of their games in 2021 with the exception of one, when he was made inactive in the Week 5 win over the New York Giants. Due to the emergence of fellow former undrafted free agent Terence Steele, however, Knight played in only three snaps this season and, going forward, won’t play another until 2022, but this time it’s by choice.
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