Ravens Rashod Bateman: Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson's Key Receiver?

The Baltimore Ravens have a loaded wide receiver group, but the sneaky Bateman can make a huge impact if he's healthy.

The Baltimore Ravens needed to flip the receiver room this offseason to build a more dangerous offense around MVP-level quarterback Lamar Jackson — and that's exactly what the franchise did. 

But even with the addition of names like Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers, maybe there's a surprise star who's waiting to break out. That's where Rashod Bateman comes in, finally back to speed after Lisfranc surgery.

"After missing five games as a rookie and 11 games last season, Bateman could be the wild card who lifts Baltimore's receiving corps to another level if he has a healthy NFL season for the first time," BaltimoreRavens.com wrote. "The Ravens may be cautious with Bateman during training camp, but he'll be a player to watch closely as the regular season approaches."

While he did not participate in minicamp, Bateman is still expected to return for the regular season. And although logging only 515 yards and two touchdowns in his first two seasons, he's been sidelined. ... a lot.

It's impossible to call a player injury-prone just two seasons in, but Bateman needs to stay healthy in 2023 just to prove he can. And if he does, he's got a shot to make some noise while defenses hone in on Beckham and Flowers.

If Bateman rises to the challenge, this Ravens unit can be historic, rising to the caliber of Jacoby Jones, Torrey Smith and Steve Smith Sr.

"This group rivals that group, and it might be the best – we'll see. That's up to them to determine that, but I'm very excited about those guys," John Harbaugh said, per BaltimoreRavens.com.

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