The wait is finally over! The Baltimore Ravens traveled to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to play against the defending back-to-back Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, in a thrilling rematch from last season’s AFC Championship game to kick start the 2024 season. The Ravens are three-point underdogs, with the over/under at 47.
One aspect of the AFC Championship game that the Ravens hope to avoid repeating is their reluctance to run the football. Outside of Lamar Jackson’s eight rushing attempts for 54 yards, their rushing attack failed to rush for over 100 yards, gaining 81 yards. Their running backs only ran the ball eight times for 27 yards throughout the game.
The Ravens will have two running backs out for this game.
The Baltimore Ravens placed their second-year running back on the PUP list
The Ravens placed Keaton Mitchell on the reserve/PUP list on the roster cutdown deadline. Mitchell suffered an ACL tear in the fourth quarter of their 23-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15. Mitchell missed spring practices and the duration of their training camp program. As a result, he will miss at least the first four games. However, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic doesn’t expect him to be ready until later in the season.
The Baltimore Ravens placed their rookie on injured reserve
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Rasheen Ali will begin the season on injured reserve. Ali has been dealing with a neck injury since their preseason opener. He was listed as doubtful on the injury report. He, too, will miss at least the first four games.
For tonight vs. the #Chiefs: Fifth-round RB Rasheen Ali was just placed on IR, while LB Josh Ross was signed to the 53-man roster to replace him. Baltimore elevated PS RB John Kelly and CB Ka’dar Hollman.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 5, 2024
This recent transaction leaves the Ravens with two healthy running backs on their active roster. Derrick Henry looks to carry a heavy workload while Justice Hill backs up Henry. The Ravens elevated a running back from the practice squad.
The Baltimore Ravens elevated a running back for game day
The Ravens elevated John Kelly from the practice squad for this game. Teams can elevate two players from the practice squad for each game. A player can be elevated three times without being promoted to the active roster. However, the team must sign them to the active roster for a fourth regular season game.
Kelly bounced around on the Cleveland Browns practice squad since 2020, appearing in five games from 2021 to 2023 and rushing for 13 yards on two carries. The Browns released him on August 12, and the Ravens signed him the next day. Unfortunately, the Ravens released him during roster cuts but re-signed him to their practice squad.
He will serve as the RB3.
