The Baltimore Ravens have a plethora of talented wide receivers on their roster this season. Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins and Rashod Bateman are regarded as the top-three of the group, but there are others who have made positive impacts so far this year, especially with the absence of Bateman due to injury.
Two of those under-the-radar receiver are second-year wideouts Devin Duvernay and James Proche II. They have both stepped up when they’ve heard their numbers called in a big way, providing outstanding value. When quarterback Lamar Jackson was asked about how proud he is of the pair, he gushed about the duo.
“I’m very proud. I was proud of them last year. Last year, we played the Chiefs at home with no fans in the crowd, [and] ‘Duv’ [Devin Duvernay] ran a kick return back. I was proud of him then. James [Proche II] had been getting in on special teams stuff like that and doing what he can do. Now, he’s worked his way up this year. He’s been doing a tremendous job. Even in practice, those guys are working so hard. James is always the first one out there doing his own thing. I tell him, ‘I don’t know how you do that.’ (laughter) We have practice on top of practice, and before practice, we have pre-practice. So, it’s like, ‘You’re practicing before all of that?’ It’s dope. It’s great to see him making plays out here on the field. We just have to keep it going.”
Proche had a career-high five receptions on six targets for 74 yards against the Denver Broncos in Week 4, while Duvernay currently leads all punt returners with a 18.9 yards per punt return average. Both players were expected to take big leaps heading into the 2021 season, and they’ve both done just that. However, as Jackson says now the pair just has to keep it going, and both have the potential to continue to contribute at a high level.
