Keaton Mitchell had nine carries for 138 yards and one touchdown run in the Ravens Week 9 win over Seattle and hit the ground running against the Browns on Sunday.
Mitchell had an electric 39-yard touchdown run and then took a screen pass 32 yards, accounting for over 200+ yards on his last 11 touches.
.@_KeatonMitchell picking up where he left off❗❗❗
Tune in on FOX pic.twitter.com/8QaaVoimv3
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 12, 2023
The dynamic rookie out of ECU is a difference maker for Baltimore’s retooled offense, and yet he only had four offensive snaps in the second half of Sunday’s 33-31 loss to the Browns, which left pundits, experts, and fans confused.
On Monday, head coach John Harbaugh addressed the lack of touches, blaming himself rather than first-year offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
“As you look back on it, [it’s] part of the process of getting a young guy in there and working him into the gameplan as part of the process as we go. I don’t think we felt probably as an offensive coaching staff we were going to throw the whole gameplan on him,” Harbaugh said.
“Those are the plays that get called from the groupings that were called in the second half. Looking back on it, would we have wanted him out there more? Yes. I think that’ll factor into this gameplan.”
At worst, Monken should be fined for his inability to spread out the touches and snaps accordingly between Gus Edwards, Keaton Mitchell, and Justice Hill.
Mitchell has been a difference-maker the past two games in the Ravens offense and the most explosive player on the roster outside Zay Flowers and quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Monken and Harbaugh get an opportunity to feature Mitchell against the Bengals in a quick turnaround on Thursday night.
