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John Harbaugh provides update on Keaton Mitchell (0:17)
Ravens coach John Harbaugh announces in his postgame news conference that RB Keaton Mitchell has a season-ending injury. (0:17)
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Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterDec 17, 2023, 11:11 PM ET
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- Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In becoming the first AFC team to clinch a playoff berth, the Baltimore Ravens lost another offensive playmaker toward the end of Sunday night’s 23-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Big-play running back Keaton Mitchell sustained a serious left knee injury in the fourth quarter and was carted off the field. Mitchell, an undrafted rookie, was tripped up by safety Andrew Wingard, causing his left leg to bend awkwardly after he landed on it.
“It looks like he won’t be back for the rest of this season,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.
This is the third significant player that Baltimore’s offense has lost. Starting running back J.K. Dobbins sustained a season-ending Achilles injury in the season opener, and tight end Mark Andrews will miss at least the rest of the regular season after injuring his ankle in Week 11.
Now, the Ravens will be without Mitchell, who started Sunday and totaled 73 yards on nine carries (8.1-yard average) before the injury.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Harbaugh said. “He’s just got a great attitude and demeanor about him, and it’s a guy that he wants to do well. He deserves to do well.”
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson thought Mitchell was on his way to scoring a touchdown before going down on that 13-yard run.
“He’s lights out,” Jackson said. “He was starting to get started. So that’s tough to see.”
The Ravens lost Mitchell on a night when they dominated running the ball. Baltimore gained 251 yards, which marked the 12th time the team has surpassed 250 yards on the ground since Jackson took over as the starting quarterback midway through the 2018 season. No other team in the NFL has more than five such games over that span, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
With Mitchell out, the NFL’s No. 1 rushing attack will rely on Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. Baltimore will promote two-time Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon from the practice squad to fill Mitchell’s spot on the 53-man roster, according to Harbaugh.
“He’s been working super hard,” Harbaugh said of Gordon. “He’s in great shape and he’ll be ready to go.”
With the help of the run game, the Ravens reached the playoffs for the fifth time in the past six seasons, although the team’s expectations go beyond making the postseason. Baltimore (11-3) maintained a one-game lead over the Miami Dolphins (10-4) for the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a two-game advantage over the Cleveland Browns (9-5) for first place in the AFC North.
“We’re just getting started, man,” Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith said. “So we’re happy about it, but we’re not satisfied.”
Jackson ramped up his Most Valuable Player campaign by eluding pass-rushers and scrambling for long runs. He finished with 171 yards passing and one touchdown as well as 97 yards rushing.
This was Jackson’s 23rd game with at least 75 yards rushing and one touchdown pass, which are 10 more than any other quarterback in NFL history.
“I believe he’s the best quarterback in the National Football League,” Harbaugh said.
