The Baltimore Ravens saw rookie wide receiver Rashod Bateman make his NFL debut in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Bateman missed the first five games of the regular season due to a core muscle injury that he suffered in training camp, so his debut was widely anticipated by many.
Bateman didn’t disappoint on Sunday, catching four passes for 29 yards. He did also have a bad drop that bounced off of his chest and into the hands of a waiting Los Angeles defender, so he was responsible for one of quarterback Lamar Jackson’s interceptions.
When asked about Bateman’s first game at the NFL level, Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh said it was “really good” outside of his drop.
“Really good, except for the last one. That’s the one he’ll probably learn the most from, but he was good. He made some key first-down catches. I liked that he caught it, put it away and got straight up field. It’s a simple thing, but in the NFL, it’s not an easy thing to learn, and he did a great job of that.”
Mistakes like the one Bateman made can be ironed out with time. His NFL debut was an overall success, and he was even tied for the team lead in targets with six, sharing the top spot with tight end Mark Andrews. As the rookie wideout becomes more familiar with the NFL game his role in the Ravens’ offense should grow, as should his production.
