Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell is currently in the unenviable position of trying to work his way back from a season-ending injury. Entering the league as an undrafted free agent, the East Carolina product started the season in a reserve role before breaking out down the stretch. Serving as the lightning to Gus Edwards’ thunder, the rookie finished his season with 396 yards and two touchdowns on 47 rushing attempts, good for a staggering 8.4 yards per carry. All of this production came between Weeks 9-14 and the rookie was in position to be a major contributor towards Baltimore’s playoff run. Unfortunately, Mitchell tore his ACL against the Jacksonville Jaguars, sidelining him for the remainder of the regular season.
With offseason workouts underway, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh gave an injury update on Keaton Mitchell.
“It’s not a come-back-during-training camp or first game type of thing. I think we all know that,” Harbaugh said. “It’s sometime during the season. It’s not like right around the corner. We shouldn’t be biting our fingernails: Is he going to get back? But I will say he’s on schedule, maybe ahead of schedule. He’s doing really well.”
Keaton Mitchell Injury Update: Return Is “Not Right Around the Corner”
John Harbaugh gave this quote with an optimistic tone, but the key takeaway is that the injury will keep Keaton Mitchell off the field in Week 1. This isn’t too surprising, as ACL injuries usually involve a nine-month recovery. Mitchell tore his ACL on December 17th, so nine months would get him back on the field by the middle of September. The Ravens, of course, kick off their season against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 5th, roughly 8.5 months after Mitchell’s injury.
Keaton Mitchell missing Week 1 to injury isn’t a surprise, but it’s surprising to see Harbaugh already rule it out. The NFL offseason is a time for uncontrolled optimism. Everyone is in the shape of their lives, every draft pick will hit, and every second-year player is ready to build on their rookie season. The fact Harbaugh is already ruling out Mitchell implies that the running back could miss a decent chunk of the regular season, despite reportedly being “maybe ahead of schedule.”
Fortunately, the Ravens have the luxury of allowing Keaton Mitchell to take his time returning from injury. Despite losing Edwards and J.K. Dobbins in free agency, Baltimore’s running back room has never been better. The team brought in superstar Derrick Henry, and pairing him with Lamar Jackson should give the Ravens an unstoppable rushing attack. Barring injury, Mitchell won’t be anything more than a seldom-used backup who only sees the field when Henry needs a breather.
Main Photo: Bob Self – USA Today Sports
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