Keaton Mitchell returned to Ravens practice Wednesday, pushing the explosive running back one step closer to a potential November debut.

Mitchell hadn’t practiced since suffering a significant knee injury in the Ravens’ Dec. 17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last season. He remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

The Ravens now have 21 days to activate Mitchell, who averaged 8.4 yards per carry as a rookie, to their 53-man roster. Coach John Harbaugh said last week that he was “still very optimistic and positive” that Mitchell would contribute this season.

The Ravens haven’t needed Mitchell’s big-play ability this year. They lead the NFL in rushing offense (210.9 yards per game), and running back Derrick Henry is a dark-horse candidate for league Most Valuable Player honors. Henry has an NFL-high 873 rushing yards and is averaging 6.5 yards per carry, the most of any player with at least 50 rushing attempts this season.

The Ravens also opened the practice window of cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis, who suffered a hamstring injury in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys. Armour-Davis can contribute on special teams and earned early-season snaps at outside cornerback for the secondary, which has struggled all year.

Six Ravens were missing at Wednesday’s walk-through practice: running back Rasheen Ali (ankle); wide receiver Zay Flowers (ankle); defensive lineman Travis Jones (ankle); and cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (knee), Nate Wiggins (shoulder) and T.J. Tampa (ankle). Ali missed the Ravens’ win Monday over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Humphrey left late in the first half, but the others all played until late in the fourth quarter.

Defensive lineman Broderick Washington (knee) and linebacker Malik Harrison (groin), both of whom have missed the past two games, were estimated to be limited participants Wednesday. Cornerback Arthur Maulet, who was activated off injured reserve Tuesday, was also listed as limited, along with Mitchell and Armour-Davis.