The Baltimore Ravens have been using the trio of Ty’Son Williams, Latavius Murray, and Devonta Freeman at running back over the last couple of weeks. But that trio is likely to be broken up in Week 4.
The Ravens announced on Saturday that they had elevated running back Le’Veon Bell from the practice squad in anticipation of Sunday’s game.
Bell will be active this week meaning that one of the Ravens’ top three backs will likely be a healthy scratch. The immediate assumption most probably had was that the inactive player would be Freeman.
However, that might not be as much of a guarantee as most probably assume.
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec took to Twitter on Saturday and insisted that while Freeman “could be the odd man out, Williams’ status bears watching too.”
Zrebiec explained his rationale by detailing how Williams had seemingly fallen out of favor with the Ravens coaching staff in recent weeks.
"“He had only five carries last week and Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman didn’t exactly give strong endorsement for Williams when asked Thursday.”"
Seems unlikely Ravens will dress four backs. Freeman could be odd man out Sunday with Bell debuting, but Ty’Son Williams’ status bears watching, too. He had only 5 carries last week and Ravens OC Greg Roman didn’t exactly give strong endorsement for Williams when asked Thursday. https://t.co/4bbfSornF1
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) October 2, 2021
Would the Ravens really make Ty’Son Williams a healthy scratch?
It seems ridiculous that the Ravens would even consider making Williams inactive given how efficient the former undrafted free agent has been this season.
Williams is averaging over 6.0 yards a carry and has easily been the team’s most productive running back to date. However, his puzzlingly low usage last week gives credence to this claim.
Despite receiving 50 percent of offensive snaps a week ago, Williams was limited to just five touches all game. Meanwhile, Murray carried the ball seven times for just 28 times. Freeman had three carries that resulted in just eight yards.
Perhaps Wiilliams’ fumble in Week 2 landed him in the doghouse, but it certainly can’t be his blocking as some have suggested.
Williams’ 85.4 Pro Football Focus pass-block grade is the fourth-highest among all NFL running backs. Murray, on the other hand, has a dreadful 21.1 PFF pass-block grade that is the fourth-lowest.
Ty’Son Williams is the best running back on the Ravens roster. Even with Bell set to be active, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be the designated RB1 in the backfield.
It’s quite frankly absurd that his gameday status is even in question at all.