Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman recently suffered a multi-week injury during practice that head coach John Harbaugh says will keep him out until September. It’s a big blow not only to Baltimore’s offense, but also to Bateman himself, who would have benefited from having more offseason practices and the preseason to learn about the NFL game.
Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky expressed his concern for the Ravens’ offense with Bateman and other receivers such as Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin absent.
.@danorlovsky7's level of concern for the Raven's offense has reached "terrified" 😳
"The weakest part of this football team is still weak! … [Rashod Batman's injury] is a huge, huge concern for a Super Bowl contender." pic.twitter.com/TALgrxanJB
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) August 12, 2021
Bateman saw Orlovsky’s comments, and took to Twitter to respond to the former quarterback.
@danorlovsky7 just talking for a paycheck per usual. We go be just fine Ravens Flock 💜 https://t.co/hkUzRJ9n7e
— Rashod Bateman (@R_bateman2) August 16, 2021
Just because Bateman and a few other Ravens’ receivers have been out of practice for a few weeks doesn’t mean that all of a sudden Baltimore’s offensive unit won’t be able to produce at high levels. Brown and Boykin aren’t expected to be held out for much longer, while Bateman’s injury isn’t season-ending.
The Ravens’ have built a historic rushing offense. If healthy, Baltimore’s offensive line should be improved from last season, players like Brown and running back J.K. Dobbins are expected to take a big leap, and new addition Sammy Watkins should make an impact as well. Aside from all of that, the Ravens have a former unanimous-MVP in quarterback Lamar Jackson, who by himself elevates any offense that he’s in.
There’s no doubt that a healthy Bateman would help Baltimore’s offensive unit. However, just because he’ll be out for a few weeks doesn’t mean they’ll all of a sudden become stagnant.