The Baltimore Ravens have activated former first-round pick Rashod Bateman from the did not report list, the team announced on Twitter. The wide receiver is ready to go just in time for Ravens training camp.
Bateman has been nursing a foot injury since he had Lisfranc surgery in November. He wasn't present at training camp on Friday as expected, so the Ravens moved him to the DNR list. However, the 23-year-old is where he's supposed to be with time to spare before camp begins.
The Ravens selected Bateman out of Minnesota with the 27th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft to support MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. Bateman's best attribute is his elite speed. He ran a 4.43 40-yard dash, but his tape suggests his game speed is even faster.
However, the Lamar Jackson-Rashod Bateman connection has been a bit underwhelming so far. In two seasons, Bateman has played 18 games and recorded 800 yards and just three touchdowns. That's a measly 44.4 yards per game, which really isn't good enough for a first round pick.
Wide receiver has been a position of weakness for the Ravens for most of Jackson's career. However, they finally addressed that need this offseason and put together what could potentially be one of the most potent sets of weapons in football this year.
Baltimore drafted Zay Flowers, another speedster, out of Boston College in the first round. They added veteran superstar Odell Beckham Jr., who still has some left in the tank, in free agency. Mark Andrews is one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL, and running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards are both returning from free agency as well.
In the mix of all these other playmakers, Bateman's job gets easier, and he will likely show improvement with more tools around him. The Ravens also brought in Todd Monken from Georgia to be their new offensive coordinator.
The Ravens' offense is finally loaded up to maximize Lamar Jackson's ability. Jackson is +1500 on FanDuel to win NFL MVP, and the Ravens are +250 to win the AFC North.
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