Ravens worked out Le’Veon Bell, Devonta Freeman

Posted by Josh Alper on September 6, 2021, 5:00 PM EDT
NFL: DEC 20 Chiefs at Saints
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The Ravens lost J.K. Dobbins for the season to a torn ACL and they’re bringing in a couple of veteran backs for workouts as they assess their backfield needs for the regular season.

The league’s daily transaction wire shows the Ravens worked out Le'Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman. Gus Edwards, Ty'Son Williams, and Justice Hill are the backs on the active roster in Baltimore right now.

Bell has not been linked with any teams since playing out his contract with the Chiefs. He ran 63 times for 254 yards and two touchdowns in nine games, but fell out of the rotation down the stretch and has since been critical of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.

Freeman spent time in camp with the Saints, but was released when they dropped to 53 players. Elijah Holyfield also worked out for Baltimore Monday.

UPDATE 5:17 p.m. ET: Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports Hill tore his Achilles, which would make the need for backfield help in Baltimore a bit more urgent.

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34 responses to “Ravens worked out Le’Veon Bell, Devonta Freeman”

  4. RB’s get old quickly. The NFLPA needs to address this fact. Almost as soon as their rookie deal expires, they’re already old men. Lots of players can play 12-15 years at a decent level. RB’s generally start slowing down after 4-5 years. There are exceptions to every rule, but this has been obvious for a while.

  6. I think the Ravens would be better off giving Frank Gore a look than Bell. They need downhill runners, not a dancer. Seems like just yesterday both Freeman and Bell were considered top backs in the league.

  12. Just get over with and switch the QB to RB and play the back-up at QB. Enough of this nonsense already…

  13. burlingtonbills says:
    September 6, 2021 at 5:47 pm
    They should give Cam Newton a call, he can still tote the rock.

    —————-

    Best RB available.

  14. Gotta be honest, I loved Le’Veon in Pitt. IMO the best back in the game for a while; good runner, receiver, and often less considered, a great blocker for Ben. Wish players didn’t look for greener grass sometimes.

  22. Not sure who is expendable on the 53 to sign a veteran like this who would expect significant touches for likely marginal production. Kinda has me concerned what coaching staff thinks of the RB room.

  24. Bell is a bum?
    _________________________________

    He committed no crimes and oh, he just wanted money for playing the toughest position and the receiver position as well where receivers make 3 times more. I don’t get the rationale on how you guys like and hate certain players. Players like Cam, Bell and Lamar who have played at the top of their game and haven’t hurt a flee get nothing but hate. And players like Fitzpatrick and Rosen who should be out of the league by now and ain’t done squat get so much praise.

  25. spartan01 says:
    September 6, 2021 at 8:59 pm
    Not sure who is expendable on the 53 to sign a veteran like this who would expect significant touches for likely marginal production. Kinda has me concerned what coaching staff thinks of the RB room.

    =======================

    Pretty sure Justice Hill is expendable being on IR for the year. Just putting him on IR opens up the roster spot. They are going to add someone and they won’t have to get rid of anyone to do it.

  26. Bell basically blacklisted himself by criticizing Andy Reid. Dissing a coach who is pretty much liked and respected by absolutely everyone in the league is not a good career move.

  27. spartan01 says:
    September 6, 2021 at 8:59 pm
    Not sure who is expendable on the 53 to sign a veteran like this who would expect significant touches for likely marginal production. Kinda has me concerned what coaching staff thinks of the RB room.
    __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    The Ravens #1 and #3 RBs are likely lost for the season and were placed on IR. Players on IR count against the salary cap. but not against the 53 player number. More than likely, whoever the Ravens sign will see a good deal of playing time.

  30. eagleswin says:
    September 6, 2021 at 11:44 pm
    spartan01 says:
    September 6, 2021 at 8:59 pm
    Not sure who is expendable on the 53 to sign a veteran like this who would expect significant touches for likely marginal production. Kinda has me concerned what coaching staff thinks of the RB room.

    =======================

    Pretty sure Justice Hill is expendable being on IR for the year. Just putting him on IR opens up the roster spot. They are going to add someone and they won’t have to get rid of anyone to do it.

    ——

    Yep, made this comment before I heard Hill tore his Achilles.

  33. Here’s a question: was Le’Veon Bell’s success a byproduct of the talent around him in Pittsburgh, or has his skills diminished that much since he Departed there?

  34. His skills have diminished that much. Seriously, when you literally stand still in the backfield and wait for the offensive line to open a hole, it only takes the slightest drop in your elite quickness for your production to fall off a cliff. There’s a reason, his running style never caught on with other rbs, and that’s because you have to be an athletic freak to successfully pull it off. Once he lost half a step, he was done.

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