Ravens Add Jonathan Ward to a Backfield That Can't Afford to Run on One Engine

Baltimore signed veteran running back Jonathan Ward on Saturday, the morning after beating Philadelphia in their preseason opener. Routine move, roster depth — except the context around it is not entirely routine.

Derrick Henry ran for 1,595 yards and 16 touchdowns last season and then told the organization in late July that he has no interest in retiring. That's the good news. The less comfortable news is that he's 32, which is the age at which running backs tend to stop being what they were, sometimes without much warning. Justice Hill is the current backup, and he's a capable change-of-pace option, but Baltimore's depth behind Henry has been thin enough that adding Ward makes sense even if it's just insurance.

The signing also lands in a camp that has had its share of noise. Wiggins is back healthy, Flowers is back healthy, the offensive line has lost two tackles to retirement in two weeks — the Ravens have been managing a lot of moving pieces. Ward is a quiet addition by comparison, a veteran who knows the job and can hold a roster spot without drama.

Henry is the engine here and everyone knows it. Ward doesn't change that. He just means Baltimore has a little more to work with if the engine needs a rest.