Ravens Deliver Bad News on Bateman
Happy(ish) Friday, Ravens Flock! As we set our sights on a Monday night encounter with the New Orleans Saints and our old pal Andy Dalton, let’s take one final gander at the mixed bag of last minute news and notes coming out of Owings Mills.
Brutal: #Ravens WR Rashod Bateman will undergo season-ending Lisfranc surgery, John Harbaugh announced.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 3, 2022
Well, this was certainly not the notification we wanted to receive heading into the weekend by any stretch. After missing most of the last three weeks, including an early exit in Tampa Bay last Thursday, Rashod Bateman is officially out for the year and will have to undergo Lisfranc surgery.
Ravens decision to just roll with this receiving corps was always dubious at best, and this is exactly why. You can love your guys, and also plan for contingencies.
— Jake (@jakelouque) November 3, 2022
While the stat sheet hasn’t shown it since Week 2, Bateman’s mere presence on the field opens things up for the likes of Mark Andrews and Devin Duvernay to succeed. Without that clear cut third option who can hit you for a big gain before you even blink, it’ll be much easier for defenses to key in on Andrews and Duv like they did in crucial moments against Andrews and Hollywood Brown in recent years.
During games when Bateman suited up this year, the Ravens averaged over 28 points per game, and a mere 19.5 when he’s been sidelined. Now, that isn’t a gospel stat by any means (the Tampa game is included despite Bateman seeing limited reps), but it’s not one that supports the argument of the Ravens offense being fine and dandy without him either. Whether it’s Isaiah Likely, or perhaps a re-inspired DeSean Jackson, someone is going to need to emerge as a legitimate #3 threat, and in short order.
DeSean Jackson on how he feels he can help the Ravens after the team lost Rashod Bateman to a season-ending foot injury: pic.twitter.com/8tA8LPQc6c
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) November 3, 2022
Speaking of Jackson, it appears as if Monday will finally be his first appearance in purple. That was pretty much a given after the prior news of course, but it’ll be nice to finally see if he’s still got anything left in the tank. A certified deep threat on any given play is exactly what the Ravens need to alleviate the now added pressure on the top 2 pass catchers. Here’s hoping he’s more of an Anquan Boldin or a Steve Smith Sr, instead of a Jeremy Maclin or Michael Crabtree. Or perhaps there’s one more option still out there?
If @minakimes were the Ravens GM, she would already have OBJ on the phone 😂📲
"OBJ, we'll give you whatever you want to come join this football team." pic.twitter.com/glIbpvzqEY
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) November 3, 2022
[Related Article: Ravens Get Their Guy]
If there weren’t any plans to at least throw a feeler out to Odell Beckham Jr’s camp before this, you’d have to think the Bateman situation changes that. Given that teams like the Packers and Chiefs may also likely be interested in his services, and would be able to pay him more, it’s still highly improbable that he ends up in purple. Still though, none of us were expecting Roquan Smith to come to town earlier this week. Perhaps Eric DeCosta really is “all-in” on this year? A move like that after a monster trade would pretty much confirm the notion of “all-in”.
When the Ravens come marching in… pic.twitter.com/3BYLDD7wfk
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 3, 2022
Quick stop in the fashion department, as the Ravens will be donning white jerseys and black pants in New Orleans on Monday. Whether you prefer the purple pants or not, at least we can all agree that we’re glad to see the perennially unsuccessful all-whites stay on the shelf.
The #Saints and #Ravens play on Monday Night this week and both teams got bad receiver injury news today:
– Rashod Bateman: Foot surgery, season over.
– Michael Thomas: Toe surgery, season over.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 3, 2022
Ahead of Monday night, the Saints also got some bad news as wide receiver Michael Thomas is expected to miss the rest of the year. New Orleans has definitely shown that they’re still capable of putting up points if you take them lightly, but not having their biggest underneath threat (once again) is only a positive for the Ravens’ chances in the Big Easy. Heal up soon Michael, we’re all rooting for you.
"I got called out! I wasn't thinking @IAmJericho was going to call me out!" @Lj_era8 @AEW pic.twitter.com/w3miLW7vXf
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 3, 2022
Look out Lamar! @Lj_era8 @TMZLive https://t.co/mgKrgstOBw
— Chris Jericho (@IAmJericho) November 3, 2022
In more lighthearted news, are we going to see Lamar Jackson trading in his shoulder pads for a pair of wrestling trunks soon?! Not likely, but it was still fun to see his and Chris Jericho’s interaction as a part of Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite. Judging by his comments yesterday, it seems like Lamar had himself just as much of a blast as the people did seeing him there.
@Lj_era8 is here!!! #aew #RavensFlock #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/Nkj8J0rndZ
— Amber (@MthrFinPrincess) November 3, 2022
Y2J better watch his back from now on, because Lamar definitely earned himself plenty of new fans backstage in that locker room! Which of course, leads us to wrapping up with our Ravens photo of the week. L-J meets J-E-double F, J-A-double R-E-double T brother! If you asked me to picture a photo between the two most random individuals I could think of, this would probably end up pretty high on my list of answers.
@Lj_era8 lmaooo pic.twitter.com/IUmncoR1dL
— Ronald Toothe (@_QuoththeRavens) November 3, 2022
One Response
Long history of NFL players wrestling in the off season back when they made 20-50 grand a years. Most played the heel with the mask a few didn’t. Earnie Ladd aka The Big Cat 6 ft 9in KC Chiefs lineman comes to mind.