When the Ravens started this season, questions abounded over the futures of operating again J.Okay. Dobbins and inside linebacker Patrick Queen, each of whom are of their closing 12 months of their rookie contracts. Dobbins’ season is over after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 1, whereas Queen has picked up the place he left off final season when he had a career- and team-high 117 tackles and figures to be richly rewarded someplace.
Then there’s Gus Edwards.
The fifth-year operating again can be within the closing 12 months of his contract, a two-year, $10 million extension he signed in 2021 after which restructured earlier this 12 months. By lowering this season’s base wage from $4.38 million to lower than $3.5 million, the wage cap-strapped Ravens have been capable of preserve Edwards in Baltimore. Edwards, in flip, would have the possibility to stay round to earn again the remainder of the cash in incentives.
His response? Edwards leads the staff in dashing with 105 carries for 426 yards and 5 touchdowns by way of the primary eight video games.
Now, about that contract standing …
“It’s definitely still on my mind,” Edwards, 28, informed The Baltimore Sun. “I know I got a lot of football left in me. It’s just about showing and trying to prove it.”
A 12 months in the past, the Ravens have been second within the NFL in dashing with 2,720 yards with quarterback Lamar Jackson main the best way with 764 in 12 video games. Dobbins was second with 520 yards in eight video games after coming back from a torn ACL and knee surgical procedure, whereas Edwards completed behind veteran Kenyan Drake (482 yards) after coming back from a torn ACL and dashing for 433 yards in 9 video games.
This 12 months, it’s Edwards main the best way. Though his 4.1 yards per carry is the bottom of his profession, he’s on tempo for profession highs in dashing yards (723 in 2021) and touchdowns (six, additionally in 2021). The former undrafted free agent has additionally added a brand new wrinkle to his recreation with six catches for 107 yards.
“Everyone knows he’s a big back and can wear people down, but in this offense he’s getting a chance to get out in space and show off his ability to move that way, too,” proper guard Kevin Zeitler mentioned. “That’s added a whole new dimension to his game.”
That was by no means extra evident than through the Ravens’ blowout of the Detroit Lions two weeks in the past when Edwards caught an improvised quick cross from Jackson and flew down the best sideline for an 80-yard acquire. On the play, he hit a career-high 20.23 mph, in line with Next Gen Stats, and recorded a whopping 49 yards greater than anticipated contemplating a number of elements such because the velocity, course and acceleration of the receiver, the space between the receiver and the closest defender and the variety of blockers.
In final week’s bumpy 31-24 win over the Cardinals in Arizona — which got here as hypothesis swirled concerning the Ravens doubtlessly including a operating again earlier than Tuesday’s commerce deadline — Edwards scored a career-high three touchdowns and floor out 80 yards on 19 carries, largely within the second half. That included a 1-yard fourth-quarter plunge that proved to be the decisive rating.
With the Ravens clinging to a five-point lead late within the third quarter in London towards the Tennessee Titans, it was Edwards who caught a brief cross from Jackson on third-and-6 and turned it right into a 20-yard acquire within the midst of a 13-play scoring drive that chewed up greater than 6 1/2 minutes.
“I believe his runs were huge,” Jackson mentioned of Edwards’ recreation towards the Cardinals. “He made great cuts [and] great runs. [The] offensive line did a great job. We need more of that.”
Still, there have been different events when Edwards hasn’t gotten the ball as a lot as he may need favored. In the primary three video games of the season, he had simply eight, 10 and 11 carries, respectively.
“Yeah [I’ve gotten frustrated], everybody does,” he informed The Sun. “But it’s about trusting and not being selfish. If we’re up, what can I say?”
Indeed. The Ravens are tied for the very best report within the AFC at 6-2 and have received three straight.
But now comes a Seattle Seahawks staff that has given up the seventh-fewest dashing yards within the NFL and is permitting the third-fewest yards per carry (3.6). Seattle has been on a tear defensively of late; since Week 4, the Seahawks are permitting the fewest factors (12.5), fewest yards per play (4.1) and second-fewest yards (274) per recreation within the league.
Asked if he hopes to proceed to see an analogous workload going ahead following his efficiency in Arizona, Edwards didn’t hesitate.
“I’m ready for it if that’s what the coaches [decide], and that’s what the game plan is about,” he mentioned. “I’m hoping that I get an enormous load every week.
“Running back, it’s kind of like a rhythm position, so the more carries you get, the more rhythm you get, and the hotter you get. You kind of get going, so that does help the confidence, and that does help you flowing through the game.”
Edwards does come into the sport a bit banged up. He missed apply Wednesday after jamming his toe, although he was a full participant the remainder of the week and mentioned Friday that he feels good.
He’s additionally motivated — for his subsequent recreation, and the subsequent contract.
“For sure [it’s motivating],” he mentioned. “Because of this game I live a good life and am able to take care of my family. More contracts you get, the more you can [provide]. For sure it’s on my mind. I just try to play and control what I can control and it’ll all come together.”
Week 9
Seahawks at Ravens
Sunday, 1 p.m.
TV: CBS
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Line: Ravens by 6
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Source: www.bostonherald.com