Explosive local product ‘made a case for himself’ in Ravens preseason opener

Second-year running back Owen Wright boosted his odds of making the roster with his strong play against the Eagles.

Growing up in Bethesda, Md., which is located about 45 minutes South of Baltimore, Owen Wright dreamed of hearing his name called among the starters for the Baltimore Ravens and running tunnel afterward.

After getting the starting nod for the team’s preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, the second-year running back’s childhood dream came to fruition.

“It was honestly a dream come true especially being from Maryland,” Wright said. “Playing in Baltimore, it’s huge, especially for my family being here too. It was really a blessing. I’m going to remember it forever.”

The 2023 undrafted free agent out of Monmouth University made the most of his opportunity in his first taste of live action since last preseason by putting together an impressive performance his coaches won’t soon forget either.

Wright picked up 29 yards from scrimmage and a pair of first downs on his first two touches of the game, exploding up the middle for 12 yards on his first carry and picking up 17 yards after hauling in a checkdown on the very next play. He ran hard with impressive burst and power and despite receiving the second-fewest snaps and carries at his position, finished with the most rushing yards (33) and yards from scrimmage (50) on the team.

Veterans Derrick Henry and Justice Hill are the only two healthy running backs the Ravens are planning to count on when the regular season rolls around. However, second-year pro Keaton Mitchell is expected to be activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list at some point as he continues to work his way back from a torn ACL he suffered in December.

Assuming the Ravens will only carry three running backs on the active roster to start the season, Wright is competing with fifth-round rookie Rasheen Ali and undrafted rookie Chris Collier for the third and likely final spot on the depth chart when the initial 53-man roster is finalized.

Wright earned the opportunity to start the game with his play and consistency in training camp thus far. His overall performance against the Eagles was so impressive that he made a strong case for himself as the leader to win the No. 3 spot moving forward.

“He’s an explosive guy,” Harbaugh said. “I thought he ran the ball hard north and south. [He] hit it up in there, [he was] explosive, [he played] pretty solid in pass protection, [and he] ran the routes well,” Harbaugh said Sunday. “I thought he made a case for himself, so we’ll see going forward.”

Last preseason, Wright was outshined by Mitchell—who also signed with the team as an undrafted free agent—through the Ravens’ first two preseason games but earned a spot on the team’s practice squad after he broke out in the exhibition finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He led the team with 89 rushing yards and scored a touchdown on 12 carries and reached the century mark in scrimmage yards by logging two catches for 11 receiving yards.

Wright is grateful for the year he spent on the practice squad as a rookie because he believes it was vital to his development as he fights for a roster spot heading into his second season.

“Having that year under my belt is huge especially for me learning this offense,” Wright said. “Seeing the whole speed of things, understanding the schemes and the concepts a little bit better.”

Heading into this year’s preseason opener, Wright was determined to show coaches that he could be consistent and make impactful plays on offense and special teams. While he didn’t get a chance to return any kicks or punts, he performed well on coverage units which only further bolsters his already strong case for roster spot consideration.

“It’s huge, getting these reps and everything, especially on special teams,” Wright said. “I’m just trying to be in places where I can help the team out the most and sacrifice and do all that stuff. It’s huge, especially in the preseason, just showing what you can do, and how you can display your talents anywhere and your abilities.”

Wright clearly has the talent and right mindset to play in the NFL and as long as he continues to be consistent in practice, he’ll be allowed to make the most of his snaps in the Ravens’ final two preseason games. If he keeps flashing as he did against the Eagles, even if he ultimately doesn’t make the final cut in Baltimore, he’ll be a nice addition to a backfield somewhere in the league in 2024.