A surprise scratch on Sunday night
The plan looked simple a few weeks ago: bring back Keaton Mitchell as the change-of-pace burner in a revamped Baltimore backfield and let the league’s top rushing team hit the ground running. Instead, the Ravens ruled the 23-year-old back inactive for Sunday Night Football against the Buffalo Bills, a sharp turn from the optimism that trailed his promising preseason debut.
Mitchell’s summer had started on an encouraging note. In the preseason opener against Indianapolis on August 7, he ripped off nine carries for 68 yards and a touchdown and looked lively as a returner. For a player coming off a major knee injury from December 2023, the burst and balance were a welcome sight—proof that the rehab had restored more than just confidence.
Then came the hamstring. Head coach John Harbaugh acknowledged mid-August that the team was managing a soft-tissue issue and would be careful with the timeline. It kept Mitchell out of the final two preseason games. There was still hope he’d be ready for Week 1, but by Sunday the team chose caution over risk. For a player whose calling card is acceleration, a hamstring tweak is the kind of injury you don’t rush.
That’s a tough pill for a back who forced his way into the Ravens’ plans last season. Signed as an undrafted free agent out of East Carolina in 2023, Mitchell turned limited snaps into big production: 396 rushing yards and two touchdowns across eight games, averaging 8.3 yards per carry. He didn’t need volume to change drives—one crease and he could flip field position.
Mitchell’s inactive status leaves the workload to Baltimore’s new lead back, Derrick Henry, and the versatile Justice Hill, with rookie Rasheen Ali active largely for special teams. Henry’s arrival in free agency set the tone for a more physical, downhill approach, and his presence next to Lamar Jackson already makes defenses play honest. Hill’s value shows up in passing downs, perimeter runs, and coverage units. Ali gives them an extra body for kicks and depth if the game stretches late.
The Ravens will also be without fullback Pat Ricard (calf), who was ruled out Friday after missing the week of practice. Ricard’s absence matters. Baltimore often uses him as a lead blocker and an extra lineman in short yardage. Without him, the offense may lean into more single-back looks, lighter personnel, and motion to create angles in the run game.
This is the kind of roster math every team does in Week 1: bank health for October and November, especially with soft-tissue injuries, rather than push a speed player who isn’t 100 percent. Hamstrings are notorious for setbacks when workloads spike. One extra week on the shelf now can save three down the road.
What it means for Baltimore’s backfield and game plan
Against Buffalo, expect a clear identity: Henry as the hammer, Hill as the change-up, and the quarterback run threat keeping backside defenders stuck in place. Henry has spent years imposing his style—inside power, duo, and counter—and the Ravens’ line is built to move people. Baltimore doesn’t need gadgetry to run the ball; they need clean fits and patience.
Hill’s role expands with Mitchell out. He’s the most natural fit for jet motion, angle routes, and swing passes that stress linebackers horizontally. If Baltimore wants splash plays without Mitchell’s top gear, Hill is the best bet to generate them with space design and tempo.
Special teams will feel this decision too. Mitchell’s preseason return work hinted at a bigger role there, but his absence means more snaps for core teams players and possibly Hill or Ali absorbing extra return duty. The Ravens typically prioritize ball security and field position in early-season games, especially under the lights. Expect safe decisions and clean operation over high-risk returns.
The bigger backdrop here is Mitchell’s long arc. He surged into relevance last season by turning a handful of touches into chunk plays, then saw his momentum cut short by that December knee injury. This summer, he showed he could still plant and explode. Now, the team is playing the long game with a hamstring that needs to be right for him to be the player he is—quick in and out of cuts, slippery through tight lanes, and a problem when he hits the second level.
There’s also a ripple effect on personnel groupings. With Ricard out and Mitchell inactive, the Ravens’ explosive element in the backfield shifts to Hill, while their heavy packages may rely more on tight ends and motion than on a traditional fullback lead. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Baltimore lean into tempo changes and condensed formations to create leverage for Henry. The run game, even without Mitchell, still presents layers that force defenses to defend every gap.
On the other side, Buffalo’s defense is typically disciplined and fast to the ball. This matchup rewards patience: take four yards when it’s there, set up play-action, and live in makeable third downs. If Baltimore gets to its preferred script—stringing together physical drives and keeping the chains moving—the absence of Mitchell becomes a footnote rather than a headline.
Mitchell’s inactive tag doesn’t change how the Ravens view him. He’s an undrafted find who brings real juice, and when healthy, he’s a threat defenses have to account for. The team’s decision signals respect for the nature of hamstring injuries and confidence in the depth they’ve built around him.
Baltimore also ruled out several other contributors: tight end Isaiah Likely remains sidelined following late-July foot surgery to repair a broken bone; rookie safety Reuben Lowery, rookie tackle Carson Vinson, and outside linebacker David Ojabo are inactive as well. Depth pieces matter in the margins, and the Ravens will have to juggle snaps across special teams and sub packages to cover those absences.
Week 1 has a way of overreacting to the inactive list. What matters is trend lines. If Mitchell returns in the coming weeks—clean, fast, and confident—the Ravens’ backfield adds a home-run hitter to a room that already features a sledgehammer and a swiss-army knife. That’s a problem for defensive coordinators, and Baltimore knows it. For now, the safer call is the smarter one.
