The Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens are expected to compete for the AFC North crown and more in 2021. In 2020, the Browns finally played up to the Ravens level by making the playoffs and defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers when they got there.
Cleveland couldn’t overcome Baltimore in either of their matchups, however, including a memorable Monday Night Football affair that saw Lamar Jackson return from the locker room to get the victory.
The Ravens have already had some bad injury luck this offseason with their first-round pick, Rashod Bateman, on the injured reserve to start the season. Starting running back J.K. Dobbins was lost for the season in the team’s final preseason game. Like most teams, Baltimore has a number of other injuries that are day to day or week to week.
Today comes word that the Ravens lost another running back for the season with Justice Hill tearing his Achilles tendon:
Source: #Ravens RB Justice Hill tore his Achilles at practice recently. He’s out for the season. That’s why they are working out backs.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 6, 2021
The same injury that Browns safety Grant Delpit suffered last year, Hill’s injury is leading Baltimore to scrap from street-free agents to fill their depth chart.
Hill was expected to partner with Gus Edwards to help Jackson and the run game, the staple of the Ravens offense. Without Hill, who only has 70 carries in his first two seasons in the league, Edwards and Jackson will be joined by second-year, undrafted Ty’son Williams. Williams has yet to take have an NFL carry.
It will be interesting to see who Baltimore is able to sign as the rushing attack is the primary focus on their offense. Relying on Edwards and unproven players may not fare well for their hopes to compete with Cleveland.