DC Defenders Release Former Baltimore Ravens Safety Matt Elam

Former first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens and starting safety for the DC Defenders Matt Elam was released yesterday. The Defenders added former Army CB Josh Jenkins in his place.

Source: The #Defenders signing former Army cornerback Josh Jenkins from #XFL‘s Team 9, making safety Matt Elam the odd man out.

Not yet clear if Elam is being released or placed on the reserve/left squad list.

— Jake Russell (@_JakeRussell) March 3, 2020

As @_JakeRussell shared earlier, the xfl .com transaction report now confirms that the @XFLDefenders have WAIVED S Matt Elam. The former NFL first round pick tied a team high 12 tackles in their Sunday blowout loss. DC shaking up their roster after 2 ugly losses.

— Konnor Fulk (@KonnorFulk_XFL) March 4, 2020

Josh Jenkins will wear #23 with us 🛡🐋 pic.twitter.com/pafdSuIWot

— DC Defenders (@XFLDefenders) March 4, 2020

Elam totaled 15 tackles and one interception during his four games with the Defenders. No word on why he was let go or if any other XFL team is interested in picking him up. Elam was one of the more marquee names on the DC Defenders roster.

Matt Elam had 12 combined tackles for the @XFLDefenders pic.twitter.com/eMeX1ghfGv

— XFL (@xfl2020) March 2, 2020

Elam was a Ravens first-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft(32nd overall). He played four years in Baltimore. In 2017 the team decided to move on after an arrest for drug possession. He played one season in 2018 with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.