Justin Forsett is a surprise contributor for Ravens
Sometimes during a football game, it takes a while for a running back to really get going. Justin Forsett is an example that can happen during a career, too.
In his seventh season in the NFL with five teams and his first with the Baltimore Ravens, the 5-foot-8, 197-pound running back is the fourth leading rusher in the league with 503 yards on 87 carries (5.8 per try) and three touchdowns.
He's on pace for the first 1,000-plus yards rushing season of his career.
Forsett, 29, signed as a free agent with the Ravens last April following his release by the Jacksonville Jaguars. At the time, he looked like a potential third-stringer behind Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce.
Rice opened the season under a two-game suspension in a domestic violence case that ultimately led to his release by the Ravens and indefinite suspension by the NFL. Pierce lost a fumble in the season opener and was sidelined in Week 3 by a thigh injury.
Forsett got rolling.
"Definitely getting more comfortable every week. It's been a long time coming for me. Seven years just waiting in the shadows," Forsett said. "Just waiting (for) my chance. Thank God I had an opportunity. Just trying to seize it and make the most of it."
During his college career with California, Forsett was a backup his sophomore and junior years to current Seattle Seahawks star Marshawn Lynch. As a senior in 2007, Forsett ran for 1,546 yards and 15 touchdowns.
He played four seasons with Seattle, which drafted him in the seventh round in 2008, and had his best year with them when he ran for 619 yards and four touchdowns in 2009. Last season with Jacksonville, he rushed six times for 31 yards before a season-ending foot fracture in early December.
It wasn't a big deal when the Ravens signed him.
"Did you guys write anything about that (signing)?" Ravens coach John Harbaugh recently asked reporters.
Told they had, Harbaugh added, "Did you predict his success? I don't think anybody did. It would have been hard to do that."
In the offseason, Forsett did some writing for the website of The Sporting News about life as an NFL player. Earlier this month, he wrote for the website of the NFL Players Association about obtaining his degree from the University of North Florida and keeping the faith.
"My faith impacts everything; it isn't something I do on the side," he wrote. "It's in everything I do. It gives me a sense of peace when I go out on the field. … I trust in God and His plan. Every week is an opportunity to seize the moment. I didn't know if I was ever going to play again.''
He heads into another big game Sunday at the Cincinnati Bengals. He came off the bench in a season-opening loss against the Bengals to run for 70 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.
Two weekends ago, Forsett ran for 111 yards (his first 100-yard game since he had two of them in 2009) in a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last Sunday, he ran for 95 yards in a victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
"If you've read any of the things he has written, you'll see he's a very deep thinker … highly motivated, tremendous character and a heck of a football player," Harbaugh said.
"We're just very fortunate," he added. Then he said, "Fortunate is not the world I'd use, just very blessed to have him on board."
The test now is for Forsett to sustain it over the coming weeks.
"Every week I want to practice hard and make sure the hardest part of my week is Wednesday through Saturday just working at practice so when I come out here to the game, it's easy," he said.
"I'm feeling good. I make sure I take care of my body throughout the week … coming in early in the morning, six o'clock, make sure I'm getting treatment. So I'm not going to let any injuries get in my way."
He carried 23 times against Atlanta. Running backs like that. After all, it can take a while to get going.
"It's nice. You can get in a rhythm," Forsett said. "I haven't been able to get a chance to have those carries and those opportunities. So it's nice to get them."