The Baltimore Ravens boast one of the NFL’s most formidable rushing attacks. With power back Derrick Henry plowing through defenses and quarterback Lamar Jackson adding a dynamic rushing threat of his own, their offense is incredibly difficult to contain when it’s clicking. Waiting in the wings is Keaton Mitchell, who spent most of the 2024 season recovering from a torn ACL.
Mitchell, who joined Baltimore as an undrafted rookie in 2023, made an immediate impact once he got onto the field. Unfortunately, his breakout was cut short by a torn ACL suffered in Week 15 against the Jaguars, sidelining him for most of the 2024 campaign. Now healthy and ready for a comeback, Mitchell could be a hidden asset for the Ravens, even if he isn’t getting much attention from fans just yet.
Mitchell surprised many in 2023 with his explosive ability out of the backfield—especially since the Ravens didn’t have Derrick Henry on the roster at the time. In just eight games, Mitchell rushed for 396 yards and two touchdowns on only 47 carries, averaging an eye-popping 8.4 yards per attempt. If not for the ACL injury, he might have earned the lead role in the backfield.
His injury, however, limited him to just five appearances in 2024, where he tallied only 30 yards on 15 carries. With Henry leading the ground game and Justice Hill taking over third-down duties, opportunities for Mitchell were scarce. The team also likely took a cautious approach in easing him back into action.
Looking ahead to 2025, even with Henry, Jackson, and Hill still anchoring the backfield, there’s a real possibility Mitchell will have a more defined role. He recently gave a promising update on his health, saying he feels stronger than ever.
“I feel like I’m back better than when I first got here,” Mitchell said. “It’s going to be a movie for sure.”