Keaton Mitchell’s Big Play, Injury Scare Highlight Ravens’ Rollercoaster Ground Game
OWINGS MILLS, Md. - It was a flash of the old Keaton Mitchell - and a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in the NFL. The third-year Ravens running back delivered his longest run of the season, a 55-yard burst that showcased the kind of speed and explosiveness Baltimore’s offense has been missing. But just as quickly as he broke free, Mitchell limped off the field with another knee injury and didn’t return.
It was a gut punch for a Ravens team already dealing with inconsistency in the run game. But on Monday, head coach John Harbaugh offered some optimism, calling Mitchell’s injury “day to day” and noting the team received “good news” after further evaluation. That’s a sigh of relief for Baltimore, which has seen Mitchell provide a much-needed jolt in recent weeks.
Mitchell, who missed the first four games of the season with a groin injury, has been working his way back into the rotation. And while his overall touches have been limited, the impact has been clear.
In just nine games, he’s racked up 229 rushing yards on 31 carries - a healthy 7.4 yards per attempt - and added 56 yards through the air on seven receptions. It’s not just the numbers; it’s how he’s getting them.
His speed changes the geometry of a defense, and Baltimore has leaned on that spark, especially as the offense continues to search for rhythm.
Ravens Run Game: Explosive but Inconsistent
On the surface, the Ravens’ rushing attack still looks formidable. They’re third in the league in rushing yards per game (142.9) and second in yards per carry (5.0).
But those top-line stats don’t tell the full story. The Ravens rank just 22nd in rushing success rate (40.1%), a sharp drop from their usual standards.
For context, they were second in that metric last year and hadn’t ranked outside the top six since Lamar Jackson took over in 2018.
What’s driving the disconnect? Big plays are still happening - Baltimore is tied for third in runs of 20+ yards (13) and tied for second in 40+ yarders (five).
But it’s the in-between moments that are hurting them. Short-yardage conversions, red zone efficiency, and early-down runs that set up manageable third downs - those have been inconsistent at best.
Derrick Henry, the team’s lead back, continues to produce in volume. He just crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the seventh time in his career. But his success rate has dipped from an elite 68.2% last season to 55% this year, and he’s not breaking tackles with the same frequency we saw during his near-2,000-yard campaign in 2024.
The offensive line hasn’t done the group any favors. Their struggles at the point of attack have been well-documented, and it’s forced the Ravens to rely more on chunk plays than sustained ground-and-pound drives.
That’s where Mitchell’s role becomes even more critical. His speed and change-of-pace style offer a different look from Henry’s power game - and when healthy, he’s been one of the few backs capable of flipping the field in an instant.
Ben Cleveland Suspended Three Games
The Ravens’ depth along the offensive line took another hit Monday, as reserve guard Ben Cleveland was suspended three games without pay for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The suspension stems from a DUI arrest in Georgia during the offseason.
Baltimore re-signed Cleveland to a one-year, $1.17 million deal despite knowing a suspension was possible. The move was seen as a low-cost bet on depth behind Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees.
But Cleveland hasn’t factored into the rotation. He’s played just three offensive snaps this season and has been a healthy scratch in each of the last three games, with rookie Emery Jones leapfrogging him on the depth chart.
It’s another layer of frustration for a Ravens offensive line that’s struggled to find consistency - and now loses another potential contributor, even if only nominally, for the next three weeks.
Week 16 Flexed to Prime Time
Despite a pair of tough losses that dropped them below .500 and behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North, the Ravens are headed back under the bright lights. The NFL announced Monday that Baltimore’s Week 16 matchup against New England has been flexed to Sunday Night Football.
Originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff, the Dec. 21 game will now feature a prime-time showdown between Lamar Jackson and Patriots second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who’s emerged as a legitimate MVP candidate. New England has shocked the league with an 11-2 start under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, while the Ravens are fighting to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Baltimore hasn’t exactly thrived at home this year. Sunday’s loss to the Steelers dropped them to 3-5 at M&T Bank Stadium, including prime-time defeats to Detroit and Cincinnati. But with the season hanging in the balance, they’ll get another shot to make a statement in front of a national audience.
Ravens Add Linebacker Depth
With rookie linebackers Jay Higgins and Chandler Martin both going down with knee injuries, the Ravens moved quickly to bolster their depth, claiming Carl Jones off waivers from the Bears.
Jones, a 2024 undrafted free agent out of UCLA, appeared in 10 games over the last two seasons in Chicago and is expected to contribute primarily on special teams. With Baltimore’s linebacker room thinning out, especially on coverage units, Jones could see action as soon as this week.
The Ravens are in the thick of a playoff race that’s as unforgiving as ever. The big plays are still coming, but the margin for error is shrinking. Whether it’s Mitchell’s health, Henry’s efficiency, or the offensive line’s ability to hold its ground, Baltimore’s identity - and postseason hopes - may hinge on how quickly they can find balance in a run game that’s been both explosive and elusive.