Baltimore Ravens Rebuild Backfield After Explosion Of Injuries

The Baltimore Ravens have added a new stable of veteran running backs to their roster after being hit with a rash of injuries prior to the season.

Baltimore has reportedly signed former Saints running back Latavius Murray to their active roster, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal is reportedly for one year and worth $2 million. Murray was released by the Saints earlier this week when he reportedly refused to take a paycut on his $2.95 million contract, according to Schefter.

Free agent running backs Le’Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman have already been added to Baltimore’s practice roster this week. Murray, Bell and Freeman have all been selected to the Pro Bowl in their NFL careers.

All three of the Ravens’ top running backs suffered season-ending injuries in the weeks leading up to the season opener. That included losing J.K. Dobbins to a torn ACL, Justice Hill to a torn Achilles’ and Gus Edwards reportedly tearing his ACL just days before Baltimore’s Week 1 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Baltimore also has running backs Ty’Son Williams and Trenton Cannon on their active roster. Even prior to the season-ending knee injuries to Edwards and All-Pro cornerback Marcus Peters, the Ravens were already one of the teams affected the most by preseason injuries.

Given that Murray played throughout training camp with the Saints, he is likely to be the most ready to go compared to Bell and Freeman, and will likely get the starting job out of the gate for the Ravens. Baltimore opens their season with a matchup on Monday Night Football in Las Vegas.