The Baltimore Ravens are expected to activate running back Keaton Mitchell from the physically unable to perform list ahead of Thursday night’s game against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals, ESPN reported.
The club reportedly opened up a roster spot for Mitchell by waiving veteran defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.
Mitchell, out since tearing his left ACL last December, was a full participant in practice this week as the Ravens (6-3) prepared for their rematch with the Bengals (4-5). Baltimore won 41-38 in overtime in Cincinnati in Week 5.
Mitchell, 22, rushed for 396 yards and two touchdowns and caught nine passes for 93 yards in eight games (two starts) as an undrafted rookie in 2023. He averaged 8.4 yards per carry and 10.3 yards per catch.
The speedy Mitchell could serve as a change of pace to NFL leading rusher Derrick Henry, who has carried 168 times for 1,052 yards and 11 touchdowns in nine starts.
Ngakoue, 29, has 1.5 sacks and five tackles in five games this season. The former Pro Bowler has 70.5 sacks, 146 QB hits and 21 forced fumbles in 128 games (115 starts) with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2016-19), Minnesota Vikings (2020), Las Vegas Raiders (2021), Indianapolis Colts (2022), Chicago Bears (2023) and Ravens (2020, 2024).
