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Something to Prove: DeLuca Waived by Ravens After Strong NFL Preseason

Something to Prove: DeLuca Waived by Ravens After Strong NFL Preseason

By: Justin Bradley | SportzWire | August 30, 2026 | Photo courtesy AP Media

BALTIMORE — Dominic DeLuca’s bid to make the Baltimore Ravens’ initial 53-man roster has come to an end, but his pursuit of an NFL career may be far from over.

The Ravens are waiving the former Wyoming Area and Penn State linebacker as Baltimore works toward its initial regular-season roster, according to reports Sunday.

For DeLuca, the move comes despite a productive first NFL preseason in which the undrafted rookie consistently made the most of his opportunities on defense and special teams.

DeLuca finished the preseason with 15 total tackles, seven solo and eight assisted, along with a tackle for loss across Baltimore’s three games.

And he saved his best performance for his final opportunity.

DeLuca recorded nine tackles, including six solo stops, in Baltimore’s 41-3 preseason finale victory over Washington.

It was the culmination of a preseason that saw DeLuca continue doing what he has throughout much of his football career: compete for an opportunity that was never guaranteed.

DeLuca arrived at Penn State as a walk-on before earning a scholarship and eventually becoming a two-time team captain. After going undrafted in the NFL Draft, Baltimore gave him his next opportunity by signing him as an undrafted free agent.

That meant entering training camp knowing every practice, special teams rep and defensive snap could factor into the Ravens’ eventual decision.

DeLuca responded.

He recorded three assisted tackles in the preseason opener against Philadelphia before adding four tackles, two solo and two assisted and a tackle for loss against Minnesota.

Then came the nine-tackle performance against Washington.

Beyond the numbers, DeLuca was given significant opportunities at inside linebacker and showed the communication and leadership that became trademarks of his career at Penn State.

Ultimately, though, NFL roster construction is a numbers game.

Baltimore entered camp with established talent at linebacker, and DeLuca was attempting to break through as an undrafted rookie.

The Ravens decided to move in another direction with their initial roster.

Now comes another important part of the process.

DeLuca will be exposed to the NFL waiver system, giving the league’s other teams an opportunity to claim him. If claimed, DeLuca would join that team’s active roster.

If he clears waivers, Baltimore could potentially bring him back on its practice squad. He could also draw interest elsewhere as teams continue adjusting their rosters following cutdowns.

Either outcome would keep the NFL opportunity alive.

And DeLuca leaves Baltimore’s preseason with something particularly valuable for an undrafted player trying to establish himself:

NFL film.

Three games of it.

Fifteen tackles.

A tackle for loss.

Defensive snaps at linebacker.

Special teams experience.

And a nine-tackle performance in his final audition.

The path isn’t unfamiliar.

From Wyoming Area to Penn State, from walk-on to scholarship player and eventually team captain, DeLuca has built a football career around earning the next opportunity.

Baltimore provided his first one in the NFL.

What happens next remains to be seen.

Maybe another team saw enough this preseason to make a claim.

Maybe Baltimore brings him back.

Maybe the next call comes later.

But after his first NFL training camp, one thing has changed from when DeLuca arrived in Baltimore as an undrafted rookie.

There is now NFL tape showing what Dominic DeLuca can do.

And his next opportunity could be only a phone call away.