Cowboys vs Ravens: Baltimore invests more in their running game

Ravens Agree to Contract Extension With Justice Hill – Ryan Mink, BaltimoreRavens.com
Baltimore invests more in their running game.

The Ravens have agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with running back Justice Hill, rewarding one of the team’s key unheralded players.

Hill said he was surprised when the Ravens called him with the offer because he wasn’t thinking about his deal. He said it came together quickly within the past couple weeks.

“It’s been a journey, but it’s been an enjoyable one,” Hill said. “I’m just blessed to be in this situation. … I’m a Raven. I’ve been here six years. There’s no place I’d rather be. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.”

Hill, 26, was set to become a free agent at the end of the year. It’s his third contract from the Ravens, showing the team’s strong belief in their 2019 fourth-round pick, who has grinded back from a major injury to become one of their most dependable players.

“Justice has become a really, really good football player,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s probably one of the greatest shining examples of come to work every day, ready to work every day, be at your best, positive attitude, upbeat, ready to go, nothing too big for him, nothing too small for him. He just wants to be his best and lift everybody up. To see a guy like that get rewarded, to me, that’s what it’s about.”

Hill is a player that has overcome a tough start to his career, a testament to younger players trying to make their way. He didn’t make much of an impact his first two seasons offensively, then tore his Achilles heading into his third year. He returned stronger in 2022 and hasn’t looked back since.

Derrick Henry Comments on ‘Bell Cow’ RBs amid Criticism of Ravens After Raiders Loss – Adam Wells, Bleacher Report
Ravens still integrating Derrick Henry into their offense.

As one of the few true workhorse running backs in the current NFL, Derrick Henry doesn’t think that style of player will go out of fashion when teams recognize they have someone capable of handling a high volume of carries.

Speaking to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley and Todd Archer, Henry explained the value of a “bell cow” running back will continue to last well into the future:

“I feel like if you got a guy, a bell cow that can run the ball, why not let him run it? If he’s effective and he’s a staple of the offense with the passing game, why not just be effective with both? Even though we know it’s the passing league, I feel like the guys that are consistent and play at a high level each and every week, teams will feed them and let them go do their thing.”

Henry’s comments come as the Ravens are still figuring out the best way to utilize him in their offense after he signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the team as a free agent in March.

The Ravens only gave Henry one carry on their final three drives in Sunday’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Even if you ignore the final possession when they only had 27 seconds to get in range for a potential game-tying field goal, he still got the ball just once when they were in a positive or neutral game script.

Benched Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman responds to John Harbaugh’s blunt assessment – Scott Davis, SportingNews.com
Offensive line adjustments may have ruffled some feathers for the Ravens.

The Baltimore Ravens may have a minor controversy brewing on their offensive line.

Following the Ravens’ disappointing Week 2 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, right guard Daniel Faalele was the subject of scrutiny for his struggles blocking. Faalele is a first-time starter transitioning from playing tackle to guard.

Faalele’s struggles have led some fans to call for backup fourth-year guard Ben Cleveland to play.

However, when Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was asked about playing Cleveland, he gave a blunt assessment, saying Cleveland would be the starter if he had “earned” the job. Harbaugh said Cleveland knows how he needs to practice to prove he should play.

Now, Cleveland has responded in an interview with Sam Cohn of The Baltimore Sun, saying he feels he has been consistent during practice and training camp.

“I feel like I’ve been my most consistent and most proactive throughout camp,” Cleveland told The Sun. “It’s been a struggle having to move around positions with injuries and stuff like that. But as far as adapting to other positions and just playing where I’m asked, I feel like I’ve been extremely consistent and competitive.”

As Cohn noted, Cleveland played some preseason action at center because of an injury to Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum.

“There weren’t a whole lot of right guard reps taken by me during camp just because of injury and all the above,” Cleveland told Cohn, “So just staying ready for when my number gets called to go in and play.”

Ravens Defense Hit With Another Injury – Jon Alfano, Sports Illustrated
Baltimore’s defense may not be at full strength for Week 3.

The list of Baltimore Ravens players battling injury continues to grow, and the latest addition unfortunately knows that struggle all too well.

According to the team’s latest injury report, outside linebacker David Ojabo was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice with a quad injury. With Ojabo now on the injury report, the Ravens are now up to nine players dealing with some kind of ailment.

Of course, Ojabo has missed most of his first two seasons with injuries, playing just five of 34 regular season games. He was finally healthy to start the season, and instantly made an impact with a sack in the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Just on Wednesday, fellow edge rusher Odafe Oweh spoke on how happy he was for his teammate and friend.

“Like I said, I feel really good about [Ojabo], I’ve always felt good about what he can be and what’s he done,” Oweh said. “His sack in Kansas City was just the tip of the iceberg. He had so much more moves, and he’s just getting more confident within his body and within the flow in his game, and you guys are going to see even crazier [and] more big plays, because he has that big-play trait in him, and that’s all he wants to make – that play, that strip-sack, that fumble, something like that. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do.”

The Ravens look to earn their first win of the season when they travel to face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

Here are the final injury reports for both the Ravens and Cowboys.

#Cowboys final injury report vs. Ravens:

Jake Ferguson is officially back.

Mazi Smith, Jalen Brooks both listed as questionable in Week 3, but likely to play.

As expected, CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs are both set to play vs. Baltimore.

Full report: pic.twitter.com/WiKWbkGNW9

— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2024