Rasheen

Ali

An MRI on Mitchell’s knee came back clean, per Fowler, following the Ravens’ Week 14 loss to the Steelers. Mitchell left the game in the second half with the knee issue after rushing for 76 yards on six carries, including an explosive 55-yard run. If Mitchell can practice in a limited capacity this week, he could suit up in Week 15 against the Bengals. Rasheen Ali would be the clear RB2 for Baltimore if Mitchell is sidelined.

Ali could see a marked uptick in snaps, routes, and touches if Keaton Mitchell misses extended time with the knee injury he sustained in the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Steelers. Ali, who drew praise from head coach John Harbaugh last week, is a decent bench stash headed into the fantasy playoffs in case Derrick Henry gets dinged up in the coming weeks.

Mitchell hobbled to the locker room near the end of the third quarter after totaling 76 yards on six rushes, including an explosive 55-yard run in the third quarter. Mitchell, who has a long history of serious knee injuries, has emerged as a solid complement to Derrick Henry in recent weeks. If he misses time, Rasheen Ali would presumably function as the team’s No. 2 running back and could be rostered in deeper formats.

As Zrebiec notes in his article, “there was not a whole lot of doubt beforehand” about whether or not Mitchell would land on the Ravens’ 53-man roster, but his performance on Thursday should have removed any doubt. The third-year UDFA rushed for 9-68-1 in his preseason debut and added another 64 yards on three kick returns. Mitchell is theoretically competing with second-year back Rasheen Ali for a spot on the Ravens’ roster, although it’d probably be more accurate to suggest he’s pushing Justice Hill for the RB2 role now that Mitchell is more than a year removed from the torn ACL he suffered in 2023. Mitchell should make for an interesting late-round dart throw in deeper leagues and in best ball drafts, but an increased role would still result in spotty production as long as Derrick Henry is healthy.

According to Graziano, Mitchell “appears to have his speed back, and the Ravens are excited about it.” Mitchell suffered a torn ACL in December 2023 and missed part of last season while recovering. The former UDFA averaged an explosive 8.4 yards per carry before his injury, but rushed for just 15-30-0 in limited action last season. Mitchell will compete with veteran Justice Hill and second-year back Rasheen Ali for touches this season, but he’s easily the most explosive of the three backs vying for touches. More than a year removed from his injury, Mitchell could bring an element of speed both on the ground and in the passing game if the Ravens can find a way to get him more involved now that he appears fully healthy.

The Ravens drafted Ali with a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, despite Ali having suffered a ruptured biceps at the Senior Bowl. His rookie season debut was then delayed by an early September neck injury. He made his offensive debut in Week 15 but failed to sufficiently wow the coaching staff and never managed to carve out a role for himself. He tacked on 107 return yards via four kickoff returns. Ali currently profiles as a 20th-round best ball pick in 2025.

Ali gets his chance to operate in the No. 2 role with Justice Hill sidelined (concussion/illness) this week. Ali has delivered mixed results since debuting in Week 15 following a stint on injured reserve, though he has flashed intriguing tackle-breaking traits at times. Ali does not need to be in re-draft lineups but could be considered in single-game DFS tournaments.

John Harbaugh said that he expected Hill to play this week, but it’d be nice to see him actually practicing in one of the next two days before we believed that fully. Rasheen Ali, the replacement third-down back who left Week 17’s game early with a hip injury, was limited today and would likely assume some of Hill’s role again in Week 18 if Hill’s absence were to be more prolonged.

With Justice Hill out for Week 17 because of a concussion, Ali was in line for RB2 duties this week. That didn’t amount to much as he earned one carry which was a loss of three yards. Keaton Mitchell could ascend to the No. 2 role for Week 18 if Ali and Hill remain out.

Ditto Nelson Agholor. Neither player practiced this week and both should be considered questionable for Week 18. It was always unlikely that Hill would clear protocol in just four days. We rarely if ever see players cleared for Thursday Night Football under such circumstances. Rasheen Ali saw nine snaps in relief of Hill last week and it’s possible he caddies for Derrick Henry on passing downs during Wednesday’s game. Keaton Mitchell could also see snaps there despite being a healthy scratch each of the last two weeks.