Over the past few weeks, Rashod Bateman has shown why the Baltimore Ravens used their first-round pick in 2021.
Bateman, 24, has 12 receptions, 250 yards and two touchdowns in his past three games, arguably the best of his career. On Monday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he completed four passes for a career-high 121 yards and a touchdown.
It’s a strong jump for a player who has put in a lot of work over his first three seasons, but Bateman isn’t satisfied yet.
“I’m blessed. I feel good, but (I’m) always hungry for something more,” Bateman told reporters Friday. “I’m just following the leader Lamar (Jackson) right now. It’s only Week 8. It’s a long season and we’re trying to get back to the AFC Championship. I’m grateful and I’m blessed. But my main goal is to win more games.”
Bateman missed a lot of time due to injury early in his career, especially his first two seasons. As a result, he didn’t get as much time as he would have liked to build chemistry with Lamar Jackson, which led to him getting more criticism than he deserved.
But now, the two are closer than ever. In Monday’s game alone, Jackson kept plays alive until he found Bateman for a 59-yard gain in the second quarter. And in the third quarter, he took a perfect stride past Bateman for a 49-yard touchdown.
“It definitely comes with time and practice, and I was able to be on the field with Lamar (Jackson) and feel what he wants, and he can feel what I want.” said Bateman. “I was able to spend that time with him and learn about his way of playing football, and that’s still with me.”
At his current pace, Bateman will finish the season with 51 receptions for 951 yards and seven touchdowns, which would be his best numbers to date. It would also prove that the Ravens were right in signing him to a two-year extension before the season.
Of course, he and the team agree that the main goal is February.
“It’s definitely the same in terms of atmosphere, but this team has separated the two seasons well,” Bateman said. “What we did last year won’t carry over into this year. We’ve done a good job of splitting the two (seasons) up and coming to work every day and putting in the hours we need.” Players who were here last year We know what it feels like to win, and the leaders of this team have done a good job of sharing what they know about how to continue winning games. ”
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