Ravens OTAs WATCH: Rashod Bateman Returns to Practice Field

The Baltimore Ravens have high hopes for Rashod Bateman for reasons beyond his first-round billing.

The Baltimore Ravens are in seventh heaven.

With organized team activities underway in Owings Mills, much has been made about the absences amongst the Ravens' offense. But Baltimore received a bit of a jolt as sessions got underway as they welcomed back one of their top returning targets to the fold in Rashod Bateman. 

His participation in Monday's work was confirmed by a video shared by the Ravens' social accounts. 

First day of OTAs ✅ pic.twitter.com/xg4IeucEaD

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 22, 2023

Some have had reservations about the Ravens' expensive additions of Odell Beckham Jr. and Lamar Jackson's new contract, concerns that have grown only louder as they've opted not to take in the first series of OTAs under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Bateman, on the other hand, is available as he enters a fateful third season after arriving in Charm City as the 27th overall pick of the 2021 draft.

Through two seasons, Bateman has struggled to fulfill his first-round potential, though he's not fully at fault: injuries, including last season's foot ailment that required surgery and limited him to only six games. He got off to a scorching start last season, tallying 226 yards on eight receptions, two of which went for scores. 

Bateman's prescience is also a victory because of his virtual war of words with Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta, who brought in Nelson Agholor in free agency and Zay Flowers with his top draft pick last month. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was nonetheless optimistic about Bateman's return to the team when queried at the NFL Owners' Meeting in Phoenix. 

"He's going to be ready to roll stronger than ever, healthier than ever," Harbaugh said, per the official team site. "Rashod's going to have a great season. I'm a big believer in Rashod Bateman."

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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