Ravens' Keaton Mitchell: Week 5 Waiver Priority List
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The Ravens backfield continues to be a work in progress with J.K. Dobbins (Achilles) lost for the season, and it will likely remain a committee with two or three players sharing touches for the foreseeable future. For now, Gus Edwards is the lead running back, and he played 69 percent of the snaps in Week 4 at Cleveland. Hill returned from a one-game absence with a toe injury and played just 12 percent of the snaps, but he managed just three carries for 33 yards and no catches. I still have moderate expectations for Hill, who looked better than Edwards prior to hurting his toe in Week 2, and you should add Hill where available for up to 5 percent of your FAB. And, if you have an IR spot, you might want to stash Mitchell, who could return from his shoulder injury as early as Week 5. He had a strong training camp, and he offers plenty of upside. Mitchell ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash after piling up 2,584 rushing yards and 505 receiving yards over his final two seasons at East Carolina. He's worth 1 percent of your FAB.
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Ravens' Keaton Mitchell: Nearing return
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Mitchell (shoulder) could be activated from IR this week, according to head coach John Harbaugh,Jonas Shaffer of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Mitchell suffered the injury in the team's second preseason game and was placed on injured reserve Aug. 31. After missing the mandatory four games, the running back is eligible to return to the active roster and play as soon as Sunday against the Steelers. However, even if activated this week, the team will have a 21-day window to add him to the 53-man roster, so there's no guarantee he'll be suiting up in Week 5.
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Ravens' Keaton Mitchell: Headed to IR
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The Ravens placed Mitchell (shoulder) on injured reserve Thursday, Clifton Brown of the team's official site reports.
Mitchell injured his shoulder in the Ravens' second preseason game against the Commanders following a 31-yard run. Despite the injury and missing some time during training camp, he was able to beat out Melvin Gordon and Owen Wright for the No. 4 running back spot behind J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. Mitchell will now have to sit out for at least the first four games of the 2023 season.
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Ravens' Keaton Mitchell: May be candidate for IR
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Mitchell (shoulder) has secured a spot on Baltimore's initial 53-man roster but is a candidate to be placed on injured reserve, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.
If Mitchell is forced to IR, he would be ineligible to play in any of the first four games of the season. He injured his shoulder in the second week of the preseason shortly after breaking off a 31-yard run, and while he was spotted at practice just a few days later, the Ravens might find that he's still banged up enough to require an IR stint. The Ravens have three healthy veterans -- J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill -- atop their backfield depth chart to start the season, with Mitchell nabbing the fourth spot over 30-year-old Melvin Gordon and fellow undrafted rookie Owen Wright. Mitchell is considerably smaller than all of them, but he ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash this spring after piling up 2,584 rushing yards and 505 receiving yards over his final two seasons at East Carolina.
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Ravens' Keaton Mitchell: Practicing Wednesday
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Mitchell (shoulder) is practicing Wednesday, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.
Mitchell left Monday's preseason game against the Commanders due to a shoulder injury, but coach John Harbaugh said the injury wasn't too serious, and the running back's prompt return confirms that notion. The rookie undrafted free agent from East Carolina has had a strong camp, but he's likely vying for a practice squad spot rather than a spot on the 53-man roster. Nonetheless, Mitchell should have a chance to help his case in Saturday's preseason finale against Tampa Bay.
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Ravens' Keaton Mitchell: Injures left shoulder Monday
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Mitchell suffered a left shoulder injury during Monday's preseason game at Washington.
At the end of a 31-yard run down the right sideline in the third quarter, Mitchell endured a big hit from a Commanders defender and was tended to by Ravens trainers on the sideline before making his way to the locker room. The extent of the injury isn't known, but Baltimore officially is calling the undrafted rookie running back questionable to return.
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Ravens' Keaton Mitchell: Contained on ground in debut
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Mitchell rushed six times for 11 yards, brought in one of two targets of nine yards and returned three kickoffs for 73 yards in the Ravens' 20-19 preseason win over the Eagles on Saturday night.
Mitchell was limited to filling a returner role in the first half, but he was then afforded some opportunity from scrimmage over the first two Ravens possessions after halftime. While he found running room at a premium, Mitchell made good use of his one reception and also was solid on his three kickoff returns. The undrafted East Carolina product and two-time 1,000-yard rusher, who's striving to unseat either Justice Hill or Melvin Gordon and earn a No. 4 running back role, is likely to see another solid allotment of touches in Baltimore's second preseason game against the Commanders on Monday night, Aug. 21.
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Keaton Mitchell: Heading to Baltimore
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Mitchell is expected to sign with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Mitchell was consistent in his production over his three years at East Carolina and earned the starting role in his last two seasons. He had a career year in 2022 as he rushed for 1,452 yards and 14 touchdowns on 201 carries, which earned him a spot on the First Team All-ACC as he ranked second in the FBS in yards per carry (7.2) and 10th in rushing yards per game (121.0). Though undersized at 5-foot-8, his footwork and elusiveness give him the opportunity to develop into an effective, change-of-pace back in an NFL offense.
