Ravens activate RB Keaton Mitchell ahead of game vs. Bengals

BALTIMORE — Keaton Mitchell is back.

The Ravens activated the explosive second-year running back from the physically unable to perform list on Thursday afternoon, hours ahead of their prime-time game against the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium.

Mitchell hasn’t played since last December when he suffered a torn ACL in a game against the Jaguars in Jacksonville. He returned to practice Oct. 23 and Baltimore had 21 days to add him to the roster or he would have reverted to season-ending injured reserve.

An undrafted free agent out of East Carolina who rushed for 396 yards and two touchdowns on 47 carries and caught nine passes for 93 yards in eight games last season before getting injured, Mitchell was wearing a brace on his surgically repaired left knee when he initially returned but quickly shed the apparatus and has looked good in practice, according to teammates.

“It’s great to have him back out there,” quarterback Lamar Jackson said last week. “I told him earlier; he caught a little small pass, he took off. I’m like, ‘You’re starting to look like last year’s Keaton.’ ”

Mitchell’s return also adds another dimension to what is already the NFL’s top rushing attack.

Running back Derrick Henry leads the league in rushing yards (1,052) and rushing touchdowns (11). Jackson’s 505 yards on the ground also lead all quarterbacks, and Baltimore’s 1,727 rushing yards are 252 more than the next closest team, the Commanders.

How much and how the Ravens plan to use the 5-foot-9, 181-pound Mitchell, however, remains to be seen.

They also have Justice Hill (119 rushing yards, 272 receiving), who has been a dependable third-down change-of-pace back. It’s possible they could also look to use Mitchell on kick returns.

The Ravens also waived veteran outside linebacker Yannick Ngakoue earlier Thursday, clearing a spot on the roster for Mitchell, though they hope to re-sign the 29-year-old former Terps star to their practice squad should he clear waivers.

Defensive tackle Josh Tupou and linebacker Kristian Welch were also elevated from the practice squad for Thursday’s game. With Michael Pierce on injured reserve and Brent Urban out with a concussion, Tupou, a former Bengal, played 27 snaps in Sunday’s win over the Denver Broncos.