The Baltimore Ravens promoted Melvin Gordon III from their practice squad to their 53-man roster on Tuesday and placed fellow running back Keaton Mitchell on injured reserve.
Gordon previously has been elevated from the practice squad to the main roster for three games this season, rushing for 53 yards on 13 carries.
“Melvin Gordon is a high-pedigree football player in this league,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “It’s almost kind of shocking that we’re going to have the opportunity to put him into the mix right now, and he’s been wanting to be into the mix.
“He’s been practicing so hard and working so hard. Like he would say, ‘Hey. When the opportunity comes, I’ll be ready.'”
Gordon, 30, has rushed for 6,515 yards and 55 touchdowns and added 312 catches for 2,513 yards and 14 scores in 110 career games (94 starts) with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (2015-19), Denver Broncos (2020-22) and Ravens. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2016 and 2018.
Mitchell, an undrafted rookie running back, sustained a left knee injury during the fourth quarter of Baltimore’s 23-7 victory at Jacksonville on Sunday night.
Mitchell’s left leg bent awkwardly after he was tripped up by Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard near the end of the game. He was carted off the field.
Mitchell, 21, rushed 47 times for 396 yards (8.4 yards per carry) and two touchdowns in eight games (two starts) this season. He caught nine passes for 93 yards. He ran for 138 yards and a touchdown in a 37-3 win against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9.
The Ravens (11-3), who became the first AFC team to clinch a postseason berth, previously lost starting tight end Mark Andrews (ankle) for the remainder of the regular season and starting running back J.K. Dobbins (Achilles) to a season-ending injury.
Also on Tuesday, the Ravens signed running back Jake Funk to the practice squad.
–Field Level Media