Top Ravens broad receiver Rashod Bateman can have season-ending surgical procedure on a Lisfranc (foot) harm, coach John Harbaugh mentioned Thursday, dealing a major blow to a crew gearing up for a possible playoff run.
Harbaugh mentioned the AFC North-leading Ravens (5-3), who’ve lengthy struggled to develop broad receiver expertise, have been understanding of Bateman’s choice to handle his injured midfoot. A pressure sidelined him for 2 video games final month, and he was restricted to 13 offensive snaps in final Thursday’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“It was one of those [situations] where it was up to him,” Harbaugh mentioned. “He and his agent and his family talked it over, and they decided it would be in his best interest … so we support him on that and understand what he’s doing.”
When energetic, Bateman had been one of many NFL’s most effective broad receivers this season. He will end 2022 with 15 catches for 285 yards and two touchdowns in six video games; solely two gamers are averaging extra yards per catch (19).
“Darkest times of them all for sure,” Bateman, a first-round draft choose in 2021, wrote on his Instagram account. “[I] love this [expletive] and the work that comes with it. but I can’t question Gods plan and what he has for me. appreciate the love and support. see y’all next year.”
Bateman, who averted severe accidents at Minnesota, will enter his third 12 months having performed simply 18 video games over his Ravens profession. He missed the primary 5 video games of his rookie 12 months whereas recovering from groin surgical procedure, and mentioned he wasn’t totally wholesome till the offseason. In coaching camp this summer time, a wholesome and extra explosive Bateman proved virtually inconceivable to cowl at instances, rising as a favourite goal of quarterback Lamar Jackson’s.
“I think Rashod is a great guy,” Harbaugh mentioned. “He really wants to be out there, wants to play, wants to have a career, wants to do well. And that’s not going to change. Different things happen in life. There’s roadblocks sometimes. And sometimes the best way is just to go through it. That’s what he’s doing right now. He’ll come back stronger than ever, and before the story’s written, he’s going to have his day in the sun.”
The Ravens’ newest broad receiver misfortune will add additional scrutiny to a lowly regarded place group that, solely a 12 months in the past, appeared on the verge of a breakthrough. But after buying and selling away high wideout and former first-round choose Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, who was sad together with his position in coordinator Greg Roman’s offense, final offseason, and now shedding Bateman to harm, the Ravens will flip to Devin Duvernay as their high possibility over the season’s second half.
Duvernay is seventh within the NFL in all-purpose yardage (801 yards), however his broad receiver manufacturing (24 catches for a career-high 313 yards) accounts for lower than half of his complete. The All-Pro punt returner is forty second within the NFL in yards per route run (1.68) amongst broad receivers with no less than 20 targets, based on Pro Football Focus, a metric thought-about one of many extra dependable indicators of receiver means. Bateman is ninth; Demarcus Robinson, who’s emerged as a strong rotational piece, is eightieth.
The Ravens is also with out All-Pro tight finish Mark Andrews in Monday’s recreation in opposition to the New Orleans Saints, their closing matchup earlier than a Week 10 bye. Andrews left the win over Tampa Bay with a shoulder harm that’s not thought-about severe, and missed observe Thursday with a shoulder and knee harm designation. He leads the Ravens in targets (64), catches (42), receiving yards (488) and landing catches (5).
The Ravens have largely averted spread-offense seems this season, preferring heavier personnel groupings that includes fullback Patrick Ricard and a number of tight ends. In Bateman’s absence, rookies Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar, who’s but to make his NFL debut, may tackle higher roles within the crew’s passing recreation. Reserve broad receivers James Proche II and Tylan Wallace, who’ve mixed for seven catches for 52 yards this season, are additionally in line for extra taking part in time.
“It means opportunity for those guys to step up, and that’s what those guys want; that’s what they crave,” Harbaugh mentioned. “They’re excited about that opportunity. They’re disappointed for their friend, but they’re excited for their opportunity to step in and fill those roles.”
Bateman’s harm raises nonetheless extra questions in regards to the Ravens’ passing recreation and front-office technique. The offense ranks No. 2 within the NFL in effectivity, based on Football Outsiders, powered in latest weeks by an overwhelming working recreation. But Ravens broad receivers have struggled at instances to separate in opposition to man-to-man protection, and Jackson’s decision-making and Roman’s play-calling have been criticized after a string of fourth-quarter collapses earlier within the season.
Barring a late-season waiver wire declare — or signing free agent Odell Beckham Jr., nonetheless recovering from a torn ACL — the Ravens even have little recourse for considerably enhancing their broad receiver group. Harbaugh indicated Monday that the crew was nearing an announcement on Bateman’s standing, however the crew’s solely transfer earlier than Tuesday’s commerce deadline addressed its protection. The Ravens on Monday traded a second- and fifth-round draft choose, together with reserve outdoors linebacker A.J. Klein, to the Chicago Bears for All-Pro inside linebacker Roquan Smith.
“We have guys,” mentioned Jackson, who’s taking part in on the ultimate 12 months of his rookie contract and ranks twenty sixth within the NFL in passing yards per recreation (204.4) amongst qualifying quarterbacks. “We’ve been having guys. We’ve been having those same guys; they just waited for an opportunity [against Tampa Bay], and they showed it. We’re just going to need that each and every game, because our main guy went down. So those guys just have to step up and do what they’re supposed to do. I feel like they will.”
The Ravens may additionally flip to observe squad broad receiver DeSean Jackson, whom Harbaugh mentioned is “probably ready” to make his 2022 debut. The 35-year-old’s signing over two weeks in the past got here within the wake of Bateman’s preliminary foot harm. If Lamar Jackson seems for him Monday, DeSean Jackson could be the oldest broad receiver to be focused in a recreation this season.
“It’s unfortunate when you lose a guy like that, a good guy, young guy that’s been doing some great things for this organization,” DeSean Jackson mentioned of Bateman. “For me, I’ve been in this league a long time, had a lot of success, so just knowing when my number’s called, just being prepared, getting in the playbook, been doing the things I need to do to stay ready. So if it’s my time, I’ll do what I need to do to help this team win games. I think that’s all that matters, and that’s what I’m here to do.”
Week 9
Ravens at Saints
Monday, 8:15 p.m.
TV: Ch. 13, ESPN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Line: Ravens by 2 1/2
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Source: www.bostonherald.com