Ravens Running Backs 2023: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes

Honestly, the 2023 Baltimore Ravens backfield was a total fever dream. If you looked at the depth chart in August and then checked it again in December, you’d think you were looking at two different teams. It started with a nightmare and ended with a kid from East Carolina looking like he was shot out of a cannon.

The story of the Ravens running backs 2023 season is basically a case study in "Next Man Up" culture. Usually, that’s just a cliché coaches use to sound tough. For John Harbaugh and new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, it was a daily survival strategy. They lost their RB1 before the first game was even over. Then, they found a superstar in the undrafted free agent pile. Then, they signed a four-time Pro Bowler just for the playoff vibes. It was chaotic.

The Week 1 Disaster Nobody Expected

J.K. Dobbins was supposed to be the guy. After years of battling back from a catastrophic 2021 knee injury, he looked lean, fast, and ready to finally take over the league. He even scored the Ravens' first touchdown of the season against the Texans.

Then, everything broke.

A torn Achilles. Just like that, his season—and his tenure in Baltimore—effectively ended. It was brutal to watch. You could see it on the faces of the players on the sideline; they knew. The Ravens running backs 2023 room was suddenly hollowed out before the first quarter of the season was even finished.

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Most teams would have folded their rushing identity right there. Not Baltimore.

Gus Edwards and the "Bus" Mentality

When Dobbins went down, everyone looked at Gus Edwards. Gus is a hammer. He’s not going to make four guys miss in a phone booth, but he’s going to fall forward for four yards every single time.

In 2023, Gus became a touchdown machine. It was almost comical. The Ravens would march down the field using Lamar Jackson’s magic and Zay Flowers’ speed, get to the five-yard line, and then just hand the ball to the "Gus Bus." He finished the year with 13 rushing touchdowns. That’s a career-high by a mile.

Why Gus Worked So Well

• Reliability: He played all 17 games, which is a miracle for a Ravens back.
• The Monken Factor: Todd Monken used 12-personnel (two tight ends) more than almost anyone, creating massive lanes for a downhill runner.
• Red Zone Efficiency: He wasn't just a goal-line vulture; he was efficient, averaging 4.1 yards per carry despite everyone knowing he was getting the ball in short-yardage sets.

But Gus wasn't the only one holding it down. Justice Hill, who many thought was just a special teams ace, turned into a legit third-down weapon. He had 28 catches and provided a shiftiness that Gus just doesn't have. He basically saved the passing game's floor when things got muddy.

The Keaton Mitchell Phenomenon

If you weren't watching in November, you missed the most exciting part of the season. Keaton Mitchell, an undrafted rookie who spent the first several weeks on IR, finally got his shot.

His stat line looks like a video game glitch. He averaged 8.4 yards per carry. That is not a typo. Every time he touched the ball, the stadium held its breath because he was genuinely faster than everyone else on the field. He gave the Ravens running backs 2023 unit a "home run" threat they hadn't had since... well, maybe ever.

Then, because the universe is cruel, he tore his ACL in Week 15 against the Jaguars. It felt like a repeat of the Dobbins tragedy. One minute he’s exploding for a 60-yard gain, the next he’s being carted off.

The Late-Season Carousel: Gordon and Cook

By the time the playoffs rolled around, the Ravens were essentially "vibes only" at running back. They had Melvin Gordon III floating around the practice squad for most of the year. He played in four games, got 81 yards, and looked like a serviceable vet, but they eventually moved on.

Then came the Dalvin Cook experiment.

The Jets released him, and the Ravens scooped him up for the divisional round. Everyone wanted to see the 2020 version of Dalvin. We didn't get that. He had 8 carries for 23 yards in a blowout win against the Texans, and that was about it. It was a low-risk move that didn't really move the needle, but it showed how desperate the front office was to find a spark for the Super Bowl run that never quite materialized.

How to Apply These 2023 Lessons

If you’re a fan or a fantasy manager looking back at this season, there are a few real-world takeaways that actually matter for how the NFL works now.

First, scheme beats names. Todd Monken’s offense was so well-designed that it didn't matter if it was a superstar or a guy off the street; the Ravens still led the league in rushing. If you're looking at teams today, watch the Offensive Coordinator as much as the RB.

Second, don't sleep on the "UDFA" speedsters. Keaton Mitchell proved that the NFL draft still misses elite traits. If a guy has 4.37 speed and goes undrafted, watch his landing spot.

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Lastly, the Ravens proved that redundancy is a requirement. Having three "startable" backs is the only way to survive an 18-week grind. They went through five different primary contributors and still finished as the #1 rushing offense in the league.

Next time you're evaluating a backfield, look for the "Gus Bus" type—the guy who doesn't get hurt and knows his role. They aren't flashy, but they're the ones holding the trophy at the end of the month.

You can start by checking the current injury reports for the upcoming week's slate. See who's practicing in "limited" capacity, as that’s usually where the next Justice Hill or Keaton Mitchell opportunity begins.