Report: Ravens trying out Bell, Freeman after losing Hill for season

The Baltimore Ravens are trying out running backs Le'Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman, according to ESPN's Field Yates.

Baltimore's reported interest in another runner stems from a pair of injuries that are expected to sideline two of its running backs long term.

Justice Hill recently tore his Achilles at practice and is expected to miss the entire 2021 campaign, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The Ravens also lost second-year back J.K. Dobbins - their projected No. 1 guy - to a season-ending knee injury during the preseason, which leaves Gus Edwards as their main option with the regular season around the corner.

Bell spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs (nine games) and New York Jets (two games) last season, amassing only 328 yards (four per carry) and two touchdowns. The 29-year-old is a familiar face for Ravens fans after he played his first five NFL campaigns for Baltimore's AFC North archrivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The 2013 second-round pick topped 1,800 scrimmage yards and earned three Pro Bowl berths with the Steelers from 2013-2017.

Meanwhile, Freeman had only 54 rushing attempts for 172 yards and one touchdown through five appearances with the New York Giants in 2020. The 29-year-old, who has two Pro Bowl nods under his belt, signed a deal with the New Orleans Saints in August but was released just weeks later.

Lamar Jackson has led Baltimore in rushing yards in each of the last two seasons, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to top 1,000 yards on the ground in a single year multiple times.

The Ravens, who averaged a league-leading 191.9 rushing yards per game in 2020, will open their season against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 13.

Copyright (C) 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.