Keaton Mitchell set the NFL ablaze in 2023, when the then undrafted rookie running back ran through defenses nearly every time he touched the ball.
Now a year and a half removed from a major knee injury that cut his explosive debut short, Mitchell feels even faster.
Entering his third season but first full offseason, Mitchell was one of the standouts of the Ravens' first week of organized team activities, showing improved burst and his trademark speed to turn the corner of a defense.
Will Mitchell get back to cooking defenses when he gets the chance?
"I feel like I'm back better than when I first got here," he said. "It's going to be a movie for sure."
Mitchell said he has set personal records in all of his speed tracking analytics this offseason. That's pretty impressive for a player that hit 20.99 mph during his rookie season on a 40-yard touchdown run. It was the fastest speed of any Ravens ball carrier that season.
Mitchell averaged 8.4 yards per carry on 47 runs in his rookie year – the most in the NFL among all ball carriers with at least a dozen attempts. He looked like he was going to be a difference-maker in Baltimore's playoff push.
But Mitchell's magical debut was cut short on Dec. 17 by a major knee injury suffered in Jacksonville. He was a whisker away from breaking another long run when a diving defender clipped the back of his ankle, causing an awkward leg plant and ACL tear.
Mitchell said there were "a lot of tough moments" on the way back from his injury, but "the alone part" was the toughest.
"It's just you, yourself, and the grind," he said.
Even when he got back on the field last season, making his debut on Nov. 7 against the rival Cincinnati Bengals, it was for just a taste of the action. Mitchell played just 61 snaps, including only 36 on offense. He had 15 carries for 30 yards in five games played.
"They were just holding me back and telling me to chill. 'You go out there and do what you can do,'" Mitchell said. "But hopefully this year I can help the team out in different ways."
With Derrick Henry leading the way and Justice Hill coming off a career year, there aren't too many more offensive snaps for other running backs in Baltimore. Hill has proven himself as a valuable third-down weapon as a receiver (42 receptions) and pass protector.
But Mitchell has proven he doesn't need too many snaps to make a big impact with his big play ability. He could also be the Ravens' leading kick returner, as he averaged 31.2 yards on his five returns last season.
Mitchell ran a double move rail route down the sideline during last week's OTA practice, dusting the defender and making a catch over his shoulder for a long gain. He also turned the corner a couple of times on outside runs for what could've been long gallops. It looked reminiscent of the player of a couple seasons ago.
"It looked like he had the speed and then just the ability to adjust and track," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "Last year, probably, you could tell he was thinking through the knee [injury] a little bit it seemed like. I haven't seen any of that so far this spring, so it's good to see."
The Ravens' new wide receiver and a running back returning back to form shined at OTAs.
WR DeAndre Hopkins
The Ravens' new veteran wide receiver made his presence felt in his first week on the job. Hopkins made a diving catch over the middle for his first grab, then multiple tough leaping and extended sideline snags, showing how valuable he can be as a big-bodied, contested-catch receiver. His top speed was one of the Ravens' fastest in the wide receiver room.
RB Keaton Mitchell
Mitchell didn't see much action last season coming off his major 2023 knee injury. He appears to be back to his rookie form this offseason, showing noticeably different explosion during individual drills and turning the corner on outside runs in team drills.
QB Lamar Jackson
Jackson came out sharp during the first week of OTAs. He delivered a beautiful long pass to rookie wide receiver LaJohntay Wester, dropped one in a bucket to Dayton Wade despite double coverage down the sideline, and had a pinpoint long pass to Zay Flowers. Jackson set the tone for an offense that looked crisp from the jump.
OLB Odafe Oweh
Oweh looks like a player ready to wreck offensive lines after adding 15-20 pounds of muscle this offseason. Despite the additional weight, which should help him in the run and to finish with power at the top of his pass rushes, it looks like Oweh hasn't lost a step of his explosion.
OLB Adisa Isaac
The second-year outside linebacker struggled with injuries as a rookie but came back looking sharp. Isaac has a good size-speed combo and will look to break into the Ravens' rotation.
G Ben Cleveland
Cleveland shouldn't be forgotten in the competition to be the starting left guard. After being a presumed leader for the job last year, he didn't get many practice reps at the position. That has changed at the start of this year's OTAs as he looks to compete with Andrew Vorhees for a starting job.
WR Devontez Walker
Walker had one catch as a rookie – a 21-yard touchdown against the New York Giants. If Wednesday's practice is any indication, he could have a somewhat larger role in 2025. He was a busy man and made an impressive touchdown catch in the back of the end zone.
WR LaJohntay Wester
Wester can fly, and he showed that hauling in a long touchdown pass. He juggled it at first but held on for the score. The sixth-round pick also made a tough grab over the middle despite the pass being tipped by undrafted linebacker Jay Higgins.
ILB Roquan Smith
Smith is in good shape and showed off his range in pass coverage when he went 25+ yards down the sideline with running back Justice Hill to break up a wheel route pass. The Ravens' defensive leader is locked in already.
CB Nate Wiggins
It appears that Wiggins put on some bulk this offseason, which was one of his goals when he first came into the league. He looks like a second-year player who could have a breakout campaign putting him among the league's top corners.
Whatever opportunities come his way, Mitchell is thankful. Not many players' smiles were broader during voluntary OTAs than Mitchell's.
"The emotions are crazy. They're everywhere. I finally get a full offseason and I feel great," he said. "Just very humble right now knowing that this game could be taken away from you. You don't know. The fact that I'm able to come back and be able to play this game again, I'm just very humble and thankful, and just talk to God every day before I go out there, and I appreciate him."
Mitchell said the injury changed him as a person and made him more appreciative. He appreciates teammates who kept lifting him up during those dark times, including fellow third-year players Tavius Robinson and Trenton Simpson.
"I tell guys a lot that talk to me that I'm starting all over," Mitchell said. "They don't even know what I can do. I'm just starting all over again, proving what I can do and taking it day by day."
