The Baltimore Ravens are looking for extra running back depth ahead of the start of the season. On Monday, the team brought in three running backs for a workout including veteran Le’Veon Bell.
Per the NFL’s transaction wire, the Ravens brought in Bell, Devonta Freeman, and Elijah Holyfield on a try-out basis. The team also worked out a familiar face in quarterback Kenji Bahar and defensive tackle Reginald McKenzie (the son of former Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie).
This comes following multiple season-ending injuries at the running back position. Of course, the Ravens lost J.K. Dobbins for the season to a torn ACL suffered in the team’s final preseason game.
And on Monday, it was reported that Justice Hill had suffered a torn Achilles in practice officially ending his season. With only two healthy running backs, the Ravens are desperate for backfield help.
The Ravens will look to sign a veteran RB, perhaps Le’Veon Bell, soon
Hill’s injury necessitates a signing as the Ravens have just two healthy running backs under contract in Gus Edwards and Ty’Son Williams.
The team also doesn’t have a running back on their practice squad after Nate McCrary was claimed off waivers by the Denver Broncos. Expect that to change in the near future.
The Ravens are now forced to make at least one signing before Week 1, although their time is running out.
Bell and Freeman are the two most notable names here as both are former Pro Bowlers who have plenty of NFL experience under their belt.
Bell spent five years playing for the Ravens’ AFC North rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, before hitting the open market in 2019. There were even rumors at the time that Baltimore could look to sign Bell, but both sides went in different directions.
Neither Bell nor Freeman has found much success in recent years with both players having noticeably lost a step.
However, the Ravens are desperate and it would make sense to bring in a running back with experience given that Williams has never played in an NFL game before.
Expect the team to sign a running back as soon as possible, possibly before tomorrow’s practice. They could also look to sign one to their practice squad with one open spot remaining.