OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins was asked if he tried to persuade the coaching staff to let him on the field for the final drive in Sunday’s 19-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dobbins paused four seconds and looked away before flashing a smile.
“You know I didn’t play the whole fourth quarter,” he replied.
Dobbins feels healthy and hungry. He appreciates that he plays for an organization that is being cautious with him, but he is anxious for a bigger workload.
A year after sitting out an entire season with a significant left knee injury, Dobbins struggled with being a spectator on the sideline for the biggest drive of the season. He said it “hurt” not being able to line up next to quarterback Lamar Jackson, who carried the Baltimore offense into range for a last-second field goal to beat the defending AFC North champion Bengals.
I asked Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins if he tried to convince the coaches to let him go there for the game-winning drive Sunday.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) October 13, 2022
After pointing out he didn't play in the fourth quarter, Dobbins said: "It hurt not being out there with (Lamar Jackson. but I just got to be patient." pic.twitter.com/NNpdSrg1H1
"Because my whole career, I’ve been able to work my tail off to get the carries and get the workload and be that guy that my teammates look up to, like, ‘Hey, we know he’s going to make that play,’” Dobbins said. "A lot of people don’t know how hard I worked to get back on the field even. So, I just want to showcase the hard work I've been through [and] that I'm doing. But it’s hard. It’s super hard.”
A second-round pick in 2020, Dobbins was an immediate impact player, leading all NFL running backs in rushing average (6.0 yards per carry) and setting a Ravens rookie record with nine touchdowns. Last season, Dobbins was the unquestioned No. 1 back for Baltimore before he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason finale.
Dobbins has not hidden his desire to return this year, surprising everyone by suiting up on the first day of training camp even though he couldn’t practice because he was on the physically unable to perform list. He marched up and down the sideline, where outside linebacker Justin Houston and eventually general manager Eric DeCosta had to calm him down.
After not playing in the first two games this season, Dobbins has started the past three -- although he’s been on a limited snap count. He has totaled 108 rushing yards on 28 carries (3.9-yard average) with one rushing touchdown and a receiving score.
"Whenever they want to let me out [of] the cage, it’ll be the right time, and I trust them,” Dobbins said. "As long as we keep winning, I'm fine.”
Dobbins looked like his former self for the first time this season Sunday, when he gained a season-high 44 yards on eight carries. He broke two runs over 10 yards and produced 26 yards after first contact, which was more than his previous two games combined.
“I really felt like he took a huge step forward last week with his running style,” Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. "The one play where he broke like three tackles and got us the first down, that’s the J.K. Dobbins that we’re accustomed to seeing.”
But Dobbins didn’t touch the ball on the Ravens’ final 19 offensive plays. His snap total went from 35 in Week 4 to 26 in Week 5.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said no one should read too much into Dobbins’ decreased workload. He said Dobbins had his best game of the year, and he explained that fatigue and situations (“you want them out there for certain things”) can dictate who is out on the field.
“He’s going to have a great future here,” Harbaugh said. "He’s a star, and he’s going to be a star. So, we’ll take it one game at a time.”