Keaton Mitchell's Role Remains Limited Despite Explosive Potential - Will the Ravens Unlock It?
All season long, Baltimore Ravens fans have been calling for more Keaton Mitchell - and for good reason. The third-year back brings a gear to this offense that few others can match.
His speed isn’t just elite - it’s game-breaking. The kind of speed that can flip field position in a blink or turn a routine handoff into a house call.
But despite flashing that potential, Mitchell’s role in the Ravens' offense remains surprisingly limited.
He finally found the end zone last Thursday, a moment that felt like it could be a turning point. It was a play that showcased not only Mitchell’s burst but also the kind of team effort this offense is capable of - Zay Flowers throwing a key block to spring Mitchell loose. It was the kind of touchdown that gets fans buzzing and coordinators reevaluating snap counts.
Yet, when the Ravens took the field in Week 13 against the Bengals, Mitchell touched the ball just twice. Two carries. That’s it.
Instead, it was Rasheen Ali - a player who had been a healthy scratch just a week prior - who led the backfield in snaps. That’s not a typo. Ali, who entered the game with just one career carry, suddenly found himself front and center in the Ravens’ backfield rotation.
Now, let’s be clear: Ali didn’t play poorly. In fact, head coach John Harbaugh had praise for the rookie, saying he “played really well,” with only one run where he looked a bit tentative. Harbaugh also noted that Ali is expected to continue in the third-down role, a job that Justice Hill had held before his injury.
But when you look at the numbers, it’s hard not to question the allocation of touches. Mitchell is averaging a blistering 6.1 yards per carry - that’s not just good, it’s top-tier efficiency.
Ali, by comparison, is averaging 4.4 yards per attempt. Solid, but not the kind of production that should be keeping Mitchell on the sideline.
With Hill sidelined, this felt like the perfect window to expand Mitchell’s role. Instead, it looks like the Ravens are sticking to a more conservative script, leaning on Ali’s blocking and familiarity with the third-down responsibilities.
That makes sense from a protection standpoint, especially in passing situations. But it also limits the offense’s ability to create explosive plays - something Mitchell has shown he can do in limited chances.
And if there was ever a matchup to unleash Mitchell, it’s this one. The Steelers just gave up 249 rushing yards in their last outing.
That’s not a typo either. Their run defense has been leaking oil, and Baltimore has a golden opportunity to exploit that weakness.
Of course, Derrick Henry will be the focal point - as he should be - but there’s room for more than one back to feast.
Mitchell doesn’t need 20 carries to make an impact. Give him five to eight well-timed touches, and he has the ability to tilt the game. That’s the kind of versatility the Ravens could use right now, especially with their offense looking for more explosive plays down the stretch.
To be fair, Harbaugh’s preference for Ali likely comes down to trust - particularly in pass protection and situational football. Ali profiles more like Hill, and that continuity matters in a complex offense. But Mitchell offers something different, and sometimes different is exactly what you need to keep defenses honest.
For now, it sounds like Mitchell’s role will remain limited. But if he keeps making the most of his touches - and let’s be honest, he usually does - it’s going to be hard for the coaching staff to keep him in the background much longer.
The Ravens have a dynamic weapon sitting in their backfield. The question is: when will they finally let him loose?