OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens signed veteran running back Justin Forsett to a one-year contract on Friday.
The 28-year-old is a six-year NFL veteran who has appeared in 87 career games during his spent time with Seattle, Indianapolis, Houston, and Jacksonville. Forsett has carried 347 times for 1,692 yards and eight touchdowns.
“He’s got great hands. He does a great job in pass protection,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “Obviously, he can run the ball as a running back [and] also contributes on special teams. He’s a very versatile football player and has had a lot of success since he came into the league.”
Originally drafted by the Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2008 draft, the 5-foot-8, 194-pound running back has also proven to be a capable receiver out of the backfield, collecting 115 catches for 850 yards and a touchdown. His best season came with Seattle in 2009 when he carried 114 times for 619 yards and four touchdowns and caught 41 passes for 350 yards and a touchdown reception.
Spending last season with the Jaguars, Forsett was limited to just nine games before being placed on injured reserve with turf toe and a stress fracture in his foot. He was released last month at the start of free agency but deemed himself fully healthy and ready to go.
“I have a chip on my shoulder the size of Texas,” said Forsett, who pointed to his familiarity with new offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak as a major selling point to come to Baltimore. “I had a lot of adversity last year being in Jacksonville. It made me stronger.
“I know this team is a championship team. I’m at a point in my career where I want to win and I want to win now.”
With starting running back Ray Rice dealing with legal issues and coming off the worst season of his career and third-year back Bernard Pierce recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Forsett figures to compete for more of a complementary role as a third-down back and special-teams contributor.
The Ravens are still expected to look to the draft to add an impact running back with Rice’s status remaining unclear for the start of the 2014 season.
