Ravens nation faces heartbreak as rookie RB Keaton Mitchell suffers season-ending injury before NFL Playoffs

The Baltimore Ravens have emerged as a steadfast force by defying the recent stumbles of other powerhouse teams. While some big teams in the NFL grappled with defeats against their adversaries, they stood resolute by resembling unyielding rocky mountains in their consistency and strength.

Amidst the ebb and flow of the 2023 NFL season, the Ravens’ dominance remains undeniable. Their recent commanding win over the Jacksonville Jaguars has solidified their position atop the AFC North, boasting an impressive 11-3 record. However, this victory was not without its cost, as the team suffered a setback with the injury of promising running back Keaton Mitchell ahead of the crucial playoff berth.

Keaton Mitchell out with season-ending injury

The Ravens 23-7 win over the Jaguars was supposed to be a happy moment for the team, but tragedy struck for the whole Ravens squad due to the setback of Keaton Mitchell. During a hard-fought clash, the rising star’s trajectory took an unexpected turn as a tackle led to a severe knee injury, spelling an abrupt end to his rookie season.

The injury occurred in the fourth quarter of the game as the young star’s left leg buckled under the weight of the tackle, prompting immediate attention from the Ravens’ trainers. The intense concern on the sidelines mirrored the severity of the situation, signaling an untimely setback for both the player and the team’s offensive strategies that were beginning to integrate his growing talent.

Head Coach John Harbaugh’s swift announcement confirmed the grim reality, as the rookie’s left knee injury was deemed serious enough to rule him out for the rest of the season.

“Keaton is going to be a serious knee injury. It looks like he won’t be back for the rest of the season”, Harbaugh said via CBS News.

Despite being an undrafted rookie out of East Carolina University, Keaton Mitchell made a significant impact on the Ravens by ranking third in the team’s league-leading rushing attack. His 396 rushing yards and two touchdowns were top-notch, while his explosive talent was exemplified in a remarkable 60-yard run.

In the face of this setback, the Ravens are adapting as Gus Edwards and Justice Hill step up to shoulder the responsibility in the absence of Mitchell. Besides them, Melvin Gordon’s elevation from the practice squad provides a ray of hope for the team’s options on the offensive side.

Ravens fans react to Keaton Mitchell’s heartbreaking injury

The Ravens misfortune in the RB room continues as Keaton Mitchell is the second RB of the team to sustain a season-ending injury. RB J.K. Dobbins tore his Achilles in the team’s season-opening match and is out of the league now. Ravens fans were very frustrated to hear the unfortunate injury news of another RB in the same season.

A netizen wrote, “I feel as if it’s a requirement to be a ravens RB to have a season ending injury at this point.”

A user wrote, “Ravens RBs never stay healthy… brutal.”

The Ravens have already secured a playoff berth and own the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Though the back-to-back season-ending injuries of two RBs have been a major headache for the franchise, their quarterback Lamar Jackson stays healthy. The signal-caller must stay healthy to push his squad towards an upward trajectory, especially in a season marked by the injuries of QB1s.

A fan wrote, “It seems like injuries always hit the Ravens leading up to the playoffs. With Action Jackson healthy, they should be ok.”

The Ravens will travel to San Francisco to play their NFL Christmas game against the San Francisco 49ers at 8:15 p.m. ET.