Fullback C.J. Ham recalls the Vikings’ last game against Sunday’s opponent, Baltimore, because the broadcasters had referenced the “Fullback Bowl” between Ham and the Ravens’ Patrick Ricard.
Ricard, a 300-pound Pro Bowl bulldozer, is still paving the way for Ravens running backs in his ninth NFL season. This time, it’s for 252-pound future Hall of Fame running back Derrick Henry.
Ham loves to see another team employ a throwback position that has still been useful for creative coaches in a modern league dominated by speed.
“The game has changed, obviously, over the years,” Ham said. “But you see someone line up in the I-formation, you just think of football. You think of fullbacks, neck roll, you know, going in and taking someone’s head off for the running back. That’s just football. I appreciate teams that still use it.”
Only 11 NFL teams have put a fullback on the field this season, including the Ravens deploying Ricard for an average of 17 snaps over his two games since returning from a calf injury. Ham, a 10th-year veteran, said he’s hopeful for the future of the position, pointing to Seattle drafting a fifth-round fullback in Robbie Ouzts, who has played 73 snaps.
“I love to see it,” Ham said. “Sometimes I’ll go watch their games just to see how they did. It’s a little fullback fraternity.”
Ham’s left hand remains wrapped as he returned to practice this week. He was limited again in Thursday’s practice. He has only played in two of eight games so far because of knee and hand injuries, the most recent suffered in the Oct. 19 loss to Philadelphia.
“It hasn’t been how I drew it up,” Ham said. “But I trust God and have gained perspectives I didn’t have.”