OTL: Third Running Back Spot “Fighting for Reps”

The NFL’s 4th-ranked rushing attack in 2024 is set to see the full return of one of football’s fastest running backs, Keaton Mitchell. Mitchell returned to play in just four games in the regular season last year, following a tough knee injury in 2023. The fan excitement surrounding Mitchell is heavy, but Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken isn’t willing to hand off the RB3 title to Keaton just yet.

When asked about the third-year running back on Saturday, Monken was straightforward, stating, “Justice Hill is an established, outstanding football player, and now we’ve got Derrick. So, that third RB position is fighting for reps.”

There’s no doubt that Mitchell brings speed and explosiveness to the Ravens offense, but his lack of availability brings more expectations to the young playmaker as the team enters its second week of training camp. Having a three-headed monster of Derrick Henry, Hill, and Mitchell seems to give the Ravens a little bit of everything in each of the three weapons.

Monken saying that “he’s got to fight to get touches” is a prime example of just how crucial this training camp and preseason will be for the former ECU star. Assuming that both Henry and Hill won’t see the field for the team’s three preseason games, the workload could be beneficial for Mitchell to show he’s still got that same burst of explosiveness the fans have come to love.

Keaton’s speed and quickness are a huge part of his game, hitting top speeds of 20.92 mph and 20.99 mph on touchdown carries in 2023. Mitchell finished 4th in the NFL in Rushing Yards Over Expected during the 2023 season, with an impressive +201, trailing just Christian McCaffery, De’Von Achane, and James Conner. The Ravens have some question marks sitting behind Mitchell on the assumed RB depth chart. Second-year back Rasheen Ali had a limited workload last year, picking up just 31 yards on his 10 carries on the season.

Marcus Major Jr, an UDFA from Minnesota, is the fifth and final running back currently on the roster. During five years at Oklahoma, Major Jr rushed for 832 yards on 194 carries with and 8 TDs. Transferring to Minnesota for his sixth and final season of eligibility, the 24-year-old totaled 352 yards on the ground on 78 carries and 3 TDs.

Keeping three backs on the 53-man roster is expected, but it’s the third spot on the depth chart that remains up for grabs. A strong camp and preseason could lock it in for Mitchell, but it’ll be interesting to see if the front office brings in another body as training camp progresses.

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