Nobody carries the mail quite like Derrick Henry. He led the NFL in carries in four of the past five seasons. But his addition doesn’t mean that second-string tailback Justice Hill won’t have a significant role this season.
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh even said that Hill is a “starter.”
While the coach obviously means that figuratively and not literally, it does convey how much Hill will be a factor this season.
“The evolution of Justice as a player is that this guy has become a starting back in the National Football League. If you watch him play – look at the [AFC] Championship game,” Harbaugh said after practice on Thursday.
“He is a high-caliber running back, so it’s great to have him along with Derrick [Henry] and the young guys.
“He will give us a slightly different style than Derrick Henry. I see him as a starter. I think he’s going to play a lot and kind of do it his way.”
It’s no secret that every team needs at least two solid backs to withstand the intense wear and tear of a full 17-game NFL regular season.
Hill, who had 84 carries for 384 yards and three touchdowns last season is more than willing and ready to take the load in 2024.
He’s feeling as confident as ever this training camp.
“From running to blocking to receiving, I’ve been working on all of those things tirelessly,” Hill said to reporters.
“So, it’s fun to see how the progression goes each year, how I feel more confident just because I’ve been putting in that work and the more work you put in the more confident you get.”