OWINGS MILLS — Ravens running back Justice Hill has quietly gone about his business and carved out key roles with the team.
Hill is a key special teams contributor, and he’ll begin this season as the main backup behind four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry. Last season, Hill set career highs in yards (387), carries (84), and touchdowns (3) in 16 games.
“You just work hard, you just enjoy the process, and that’s what I’ve been doing since I’ve been here,” Hill said. “I mean, obviously, everybody would want to come in and be a starter right off the bat, but everybody has a different journey, and I’ve just been enjoying my journey. I’m getting better every year, and I’ve just been enjoying just doing that. And so, just to hear that, that means a lot, but we’ve still got a lot more to do, and I just want to go out there and prove everybody right.”
Hill played a bigger role in 2023 when second-year running back Keaton Mitchell had season-ending knee injury. Hill was the main backup to Gus Edwards, who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as a free agent this offseason.
Mitchell will begin the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list, and he is not expected to be back until the middle of the season. This means Hill will be No. 2 on the depth chart behind Henry. He is expected to get plenty of carries because of his shifty style of running. Henry is more of a powerful, downhill runner.
“[Henry] is one of the best running backs to ever play in the game, and just to be able to play alongside of him and learn from him, watch how he approaches each and every day, I mean, I was ecstatic,” Hill said. “I’ve been lucky to have some good vets around here – from Mark Ingram [II] to Gus [Edwards] – and I’ve learned so much from all of those guys. So, just being here with Derrick the last couple of months, I’ve already learned so much. And, so, it’s just going to be exciting to see what we do throughout the year, and we’re going to have fun.”
Coach John Harbaugh has lauded Hill’s work ethic and attitude. Harbaugh was especially impressed by Hill’s performance in last season’s AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs when he caught four passes for 34 yards, played on special teams and helped with blocking.
“The evolution of Justice as a player is that this guy has become a starting [running] back in the National Football League,” Harbaugh said. “If you watch him play – look at the [AFC] Championship Game. He is a high-caliber running back. So, to have him along with Derrick, along with the young guys, it’s really great. He’s going to give us a little different style than Derrick Henry. I see him as a starter. I think he’s going to play a lot and kind of do it his way.”