Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell suffered a “significant” knee injury in the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars and will miss the rest of the season, coach John Harbaugh said after his team’s win.
On Monday, a league source confirmed that an MRI revealed a torn ACL for Mitchell, but the running back is expected to make a full recovery.
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Mitchell was injured when he appeared to plant his leg awkwardly at the end of a 13-yard run. After being helped off the field, the rookie went straight to the blue medical tent and was later carted to the locker room with Baltimore up 17-7. The Ravens went on to win 23-7.
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Before the injury, Mitchell had rushed for 73 yards on nine carries. He entered Sunday with 323 yards and two touchdowns in seven games this season.
RB Melvin Gordon will be added to the team’s 53-man roster, Harbaugh said. Gordon has appeared in two games this season, rushing for 53 yards on 13 attempts. The 30-year-old former Pro Bowler spent the previous three years in Denver before joining Baltimore’s practice squad this season.
Left tackle Ronnie Stanley also suffered an apparent injury shortly after Mitchell and went to the locker room. Stanley later returned to the sideline without his helmet and was evaluated for a concussion.
Potential fantasy impact
This is a very unfortunate situation for someone who was getting better by the week. It’s also something that could impact fantasy teams, as Mitchell’s roster rate had moved up to 35.3 percent in ESPN leagues prior to this week’s games.
What will likely occur is that Gus Edwards, who was the lead back in this offense prior to Mitchell’s ascension to the lead back role, will return to that workload pace. Justice Hill will then take over as the alternate back. That should give Edwards enough carries and receptions to move him to flex status in the semifinal and championship rounds, but Hill will still be a backup who doesn’t belong in lineups. — KC Joyner, fantasy football writer
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