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Prince Miller has gone from little-known undrafted free agent to the verge of a spot on an NFL roster.
But the cornerback needs to have a strong performance in tonight's preseason finale to give himself a legitimate chance at a place on the Ravens' final 53-man squad.
Head coach John Harbaugh said this week that Miller will get the bulk of the punt return opportunities tonight, which could be the Georgia product's last chance to make a positive impression on the coaching staff.
"It'll be a great opportunity for Prince to get out there and take most of those shots and see what he does," Harbaugh said.
"When you're in the position I'm in, [you're auditioning]," Miller said. "You're just going out and trying to play the best you can, and hopefully I'm here. That's the plan. But if not, hopefully, I'm somewhere."
Unfortunately for Miller, his chances at a spot with the Ravens took a dual hit on Tuesday when the team traded for cornerback Josh Wilson.
First, Wilson's presence obviously means that Miller will have another guy ahead of him on the depth chart at cornerback. Miller had been battling for a roster spot behind Fabian Washington, Lardarius Webb and Chris Carr; now Wilson is another guy in that mix.
But Miller also might now have more competition in the punt return department, which is where the undersized speedster has the best shot at earning a spot among the 53.
He has returned a team-high eight punts this preseason, and has posted a sparkling 13.9 yard average. The bulk of his total return yardage came on a 57-yard run-back against the Panthers which made highlight reels and had those in attendance at M&T Bank Stadium jumping out of their seats.
However, with Wilson now in the fold, Carr could become an option as a punt returner again. He held that job for the Ravens last year, returning 32 punts for an 8.2-yard average.
The Ravens no longer need to be as protective with Carr in hopes that he avoids injury. Wilson's addition adds depth and should allow Carr to become a part of special teams units yet again.
Miller's shot at a roster spot in Baltimore decreased this week, but the lights aren't out for the undrafted rookie just yet. If he can show well tonight and break a nice return or two, he might just keep the job over Carr and force his way onto the 53-man roster.
