The Ravens are loaded at running back with Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, and Keaton Mitchell, but that may not keep Rasheen Ali from making the 53-man roster.
Ali has several traits that make him an intriguing roster candidate . During the preseason, he has shown burst as a ballcarrier both between the tackles and outside, while also being an effective kickoff returner.
In the preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts, Ali nearly took a 69-yard kick return to the house and added 37 yards on nine carries. In last week’s preseason victory over the Dallas Cowboys, Ali finished with 62 yards on 19 carries and added a 25-yard kickoff return.
After that game, Head Coach John Harbaugh indicated the Ravens planned to keep four running backs, which would put Ali in the mix.
“That’s my plan at this point,” Harbaugh said. “Of course, [General Manager] Eric [DeCosta] and I talk about it every day, so I think we’re on the same page. We’ll have to see. We’re not there yet.”
A fifth-round pick in 2024, Ali was slowed by a neck injury that cost him the first five weeks of last season and played almost exclusively on special teams as a rookie. However, Ali is healthy this summer, and Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken has seen the difference.
“A full offseason, full training camp, he’s only going to continue to get better,” Monken said. “He is an explosive athlete … we have to continue to find ways within the offense to get him involved.”
Returning kicks is one way for Ali to make plays. Mitchell and Ali have both returned kicks, and having Ali available on Sundays would be fine with Special Teams Coordinator Chris Horton.
“It’s always good to have a guy back there that’s very dynamic, a guy that runs with power,” Horton said. “As we get closer to the season, we’ll see how things shake out.”
Ali wants to contribute in any way and has benefited from being mentored by the talented running backs on Baltimore’s depth chart.
“It’s amazing,” Ali said. “Just being around those guys, seeing different ways, different styles every day, and just trying to add it to me. Last year was a little rocky for me. There was a lot of trials and tribulations. Just being in the room with them every day, seeing how they think, talking to them every day, [it] helps out a lot.”