Keaton Mitchell's teammates know just how hard he worked to get back.
After suffering a major knee injury last December and rehabbing all year, the second-year running back is the Ravens' 2024 Ed Block Courage Award winner.
The award, named after the legendary Baltimore Colts trainer, is voted on by teammates and given to the player who is a role model of inspiration, sportsmanship, and courage.
As an undrafted rookie, Mitchell burst onto the scene late last year before tearing his ACL. It has been a tough year for Mitchell, who was itching to get back on the field, but earning the award made him feel the love from those around him.
"It means a lot. Just to be voted on by my teammates, that means a lot," said Mitchell, who found out he won from a team trainer. "That means that they were seeing what I was doing off the scenes and seeing my hard work and everything that I was doing trying to get back and what it meant to me."
After last season's injury, Mitchell is still working back into the rotation and had his first carries of the season on Christmas Day. He broke off a 28-yard catch-and-run, and teammates continued to praise him in his return.
"Players came up to me and said they see a glimpse of last year, so hopefully this game I can show what I can do and show people that I still got it," Mitchell said.
The Ed Block Courage Award Foundation provides each of the 27 members of the National Courage House Network supporting abused, neglected and at-risk youth with monetary and gift-in-kind donations along with various needed services to help advance their mission.
