The Baltimore Ravens took it to the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 1, routing their division rivals 28-3. The Deshaun Watson-less Browns succumbed to a well-rounded Ravens attack, highlighted by Jackson and three others rushing for at least 20 yards.
Former backups Gus Edwards and Justice Hill have united to fill the hole left by J.K. Dobbins after Dobbins suffered a torn Achilles halfway through the season opener, opening the door for their opportunities as priority players.
The one name that stuck out from the rushing leaders against the Browns was 30-year-old Melvin Gordon, the veteran running back who stepped up with 21 yards on the ground as well as a highlight-worthy 23-yard reception just before halftime that showed off his hands and speed.
Gordon has looked to take advantage when plays have been called for him in his first year with the team.
“Any time you get a victory it feels good, but it feels better if you know you contributed to the win,” he said on Glenn Clark Radio Oct. 2.
Gordon no longer holds the status of a primary contributor, far removed from his days with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound back totaled 6,113 yards from scrimmage and 47 touchdowns with the Chargers from 2015-2019.
Nowadays, Gordon’s veteran leadership and threat of breaking through for an occasional big play provides value to a team that’s been forced to dip into its depth. He’s happy to have landed in Baltimore.
“Since I’ve gotten in the league, I’ve only heard great things about the Ravens and how good of an organization it is,” Gordon said. “I knew they liked to run the ball. It always kind of fit my style of play. … I’m here now, just got to make the best of it. It holds true, the organization is top-notch.”
The longtime running back has always been eager to make an impact on the Ravens, having kept a close eye on them ahead of the 2015 NFL Draft. He was picked 15th overall, well before Baltimore was on the clock at No. 26.
“Everyone watched the Ravens, and I felt like their style of play fit what I did at Wisconsin,” he said. “… It all circled back, and here we are.”
Gordon saw no in-game action through the first two weeks of his ninth season in the league, but was suddenly handed 10 snaps in Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts for 32 yards in what would be Baltimore’s first loss of the season. The Browns game was his breakout as one of offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s options, thanks in large part to what he labeled as a “perfect pass” from Jackson.
In his short time with Baltimore, Gordon has fully embraced the culture and playing with Jackson. Every player is taught to stay ready.
“Regardless of who’s in, [head coach John Harbaugh] expects the expectations to be high. ‘I expect you to go out there and practice hard. I expect you to get your job done and expect to win regardless,'” Gordon said. “We all know that injuries happen. It’s part of the game. Unfortunately, we’ve had more than we’ve probably wanted at this point in time, especially this early. But we do get some of those guys back, which is good.”
Though he has played in three games, Gordon is still on the practice squad. He doesn’t have any more gameday elevations remaining, so the Ravens must sign him to the 53-man roster for further use. Even from a distance, he’ll continue helping a relatively inexperienced running back room as well as the team as a whole.
“I want to win, and I want to do whatever it takes for other guys on my team to feel that feeling, because it’s amazing,” Gordon said.
For more from Gordon, listen to the full interview here:
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