Through six games, it’d be hard to argue that the Ravens are one of the NFL’s unluckier teams. In each of its three losses to this point, Baltimore has held a 10-point lead at some stage of the second half. Much of it might be due to Lamar Jackson’s dearth of reliable targets, as Mark Andrews seems to be the only weapon he can consistently lean on.
To somewhat address this issue, the Ravens signed long-time veteran speedster DeSean Jackson on Tuesday. For promising young receiver Rashod Bateman — who has missed the last two games with a foot injury — it seems the former first-round pick playmaker isn’t happy with the addition of the 35-year-old Jackson to the Ravens’ WR corps.
At least, that’s what NFL fans thought when Bateman sent a cryptic tweet not long (less than 50 minutes!) after the announcement of Jackson’s signing. Given the timing (and general lack of elaboration) — it seemed to be Bateman’s immediate reaction:
lol
— Rashod Bateman (@R_bateman2) October 18, 2022
It’s unclear why Bateman would be potentially displeased with another wideout joining Baltimore. Though, to theorize, he is currently just third in targets in the Ravens’ pecking order (behind Andrews and Devin Duvernay). So, it might be that Bateman’s unhappy he could see the ball less in his return.
If that’s why Bateman doesn’t appreciate Jackson’s signing, the Ravens might have some brewing inner dysfunction to contend with. Plus, this kind of situation would likely hamstring part of the team’s efforts to establish a measure of positive consistency in the coming weeks.
A frustrating season in Baltimore grows ever stranger.