With Derrick Henry dominating the Baltimore Ravens’ backfield and Justice Hill serving as a solid backup, there are not very many carries left for anyone else.
That may change soon, however, as heading into Baltimore’s road game against the Cleveland Browns (2-7) on Sunday, Keaton Mitchell could see more game action.
The third-year back was inactive for the first four games and has mostly been playing on special teams. However, Mitchell had four carries for 31 yards in last week’s win over the Vikings, including a 22-yard run in the second quarter.
“I have watched Keaton over the course of the season and he really works hard,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “He is getting his sea legs under him on both the offense and special teams. He had two big plays as a gunner Sunday and as a running back the last four or five weeks he has been coming alive.”
Mitchell has 93 rushing yards, matching Hill.
“I would like to see more Keaton,” Harbaugh said. “It is hard to take plays away from Derrick Henry’s plate. So (Mitchell’s use) will be game to game.”
The obvious key for the Ravens (4-5) to get back into the playoff picture is Lamar Jackson, who led Baltimore to a 27-19 win over the Vikings last Sunday.
Jackson has missed three games this season due to a hamstring injury. He sat out Wednesday’s practice, but Harbaugh does not seem worried.
“He will be listed as a knee (on the injury report),” Harbaugh said. “It’s not the hamstring. Nothing there, some soreness coming out of the game so he should be OK. I’m looking forward to practice tomorrow.”
The Vikings only sacked Jackson once, but he was hit four times, including a body slam that resulted in a penalty. Minnesota blitzed 58% of the time.
Browns cornerback Denzel Ward says he will be ready for the electric Jackson.
Ward did not have one pass thrown in his direction in the Browns’ 27-20 loss to the Jets last week.
Ward has been targeted three or fewer times in four of nine games this season. Jackson threw the four-time Pro Bowl selection’s way three times in Week 2, a 41-17 Ravens victory highlighted by the two-time MVP’s four TD passes.
“(Jackson is) a playmaker out there. He’s able to extend plays,” Ward told Cleveland.com. “So it’s already tough covering guys in this league, but when he’s able to extend the play longer than the average play, you just got to cover for that much longer.”
On offense, the Browns were held to three points by the Jets after managing a 17-17 tie at halftime.
Rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed 17 of 32 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns in his fifth start.
Gabriel drove the Browns 95 yards on their opening possession, hitting David Njoku for a 9-yard score.
However, the Browns’ second-half struggles led to questions resurfacing on whether fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders may get a shot.
Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday he is sticking with Gabriel.
“A lot of us need to do things better at every position,” he said. “Whether it be quarterback or coaches, you name it. We have to put our players in a position to win.”
Baltimore’s injury list included Jackson (knee), Hill (toe), linebacker Jay Higgins (knee) and receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle), all of whom did not practice Wednesday. Mitchell (knee), tight end Isaiah Likely (hip) and safety Malaki Starks (knee) were limited. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey has been ruled out this week with a finger injury.
Cleveland’s injury list includes defensive end Alex Wright, who did not practice due to an injured quad. Wide receivers Isaiah Bond (foot) and Cedric Tillman (glute), linebackers Jerome Baker (Achilles) and Carson Schwesinger (shoulder), tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (hamstring) and tackle Cornelius Lucas (back) all were limited.
