Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman will undergo surgery on his injured foot, head coach John Harbaugh announced on Nov. 3, ending the season prematurely for the player who was expected to be the centerpiece of the Ravens’ 2022 passing attack.
Bateman missed two games after injuring his foot against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4. He left the Week 8 game against Tampa Bay early, and after Harbaugh originally said Bateman had just tweaked the injury, a day later he acknowledged that it was more significant.
Speaking at his weekly news conference, Harbaugh said Bateman will undergo surgery for a Lisfranc injury, which affects the bones and ligaments in the middle part of the foot.
“He and his agent and his family talked it over, and they decided it would be in his best interest to do that,” Harbaugh said. “We support him on that.”
“Different things happen in life,” Harbaugh added. “There are roadblocks sometimes, and sometimes the best way is to just go through it. That’s what he’s doing right now. He’ll come back stronger than ever, and before the story is written, he’s going to have his day in the sun.”
Bateman, the Ravens’ top draft pick in 2021 (No. 27 overall), figured to ascend to the No. 1 receiver role after the offseason trade of Marquise Brown to the Arizona Cardinals. Bateman caught a 55-yard touchdown in the season opener this year, then had a catch-and-run 75-yard touchdown in Week 2 and appeared well on his way to delivering on that promise.
But he missed two of the next six games and totaled nine catches for 118 yards in the other four. Bateman finishes his season with 15 catches for 285 yards and two scores.
Bateman, who was sidelined for the first five games of his rookie year because of preseason groin surgery, will have missed 16 of his first 34 career games by the end of this season.
Bateman’s absence puts more pressure on a thin receiver corps now led by Devin Duvernay, who has 24 catches for 313 yards and three touchdowns, all best among Ravens wide receivers. Tight end Mark Andrews leads the Ravens in receiving with 42 catches for 488 yards and five touchdowns.
The Ravens rank 26th in the league in passing, averaging 193.8 yards a game, and tight ends account for about 45 percent of that.
Bateman’s injury also calls into question the Ravens’ decision to not fortify the position in the draft or at the trade deadline, which was Nov. 1. The Ravens traded for linebacker Roquan Smith but did not address the receiver position.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson expressed confidence in his group of receivers, but outside of Duvernay and Demarcus Robinson (15 catches, 140 yards), others have had little impact with the team. James Proche has four catches for 31 yards, and Tylan Wallace has three for 21.
Harbaugh said Bateman’s injury means “opportunity for those guys to step up, and that’s what those guys want. That’s what they crave. … They’re disappointed for their friend, but they’re excited for their opportunity.”
Tackle Ronnie Stanley described the injury to Bateman as “a huge loss,” but, he added, “We can’t kind of sulk around. We have to move forward, and as much as we miss him, we have confidence in our young guys to step up.”
The Ravens could turn to DeSean Jackson, who was signed to the practice squad Oct. 19. The 15-year veteran has been a big-play threat throughout his career and led the league in average yards per reception four times. He has averaged 17.6 yards over his 632 career catches, and he could become the downfield, home-run threat that the Ravens lose in Bateman’s absence.
Lamar Jackson said DeSean Jackson has looked “smooth” in their two weeks of practice together.
“He’s still the same DeSean to me, from what I grew up seeing,” Lamar Jackson said. “We’re just going to have to see when he gets on that field.”
Harbaugh said there is a “good possibility” that DeSean Jackson plays when the Ravens visit New Orleans for “Monday Night Football” on Nov. 7. Jackson was not elevated from the practice squad for the Week 8 game at Tampa Bay in his first week with the team.
“We’re going to keep seeing how he’s doing, but I personally think he’s probably ready,” Harbaugh said. “If he’s ready two days from now, then he’ll be out there.”
PRACTICE NOTEBOOK
EDWARDS, ANDREWS REMAIN SIDELINED: Running back Gus Edwards (hamstring) and tight end Mark Andrews (shoulder/knee) did not practice after both left the Tampa Bay game last week with injuries. In addition to those two and Bateman, others missing practice included three players who had rest days: linebacker Justin Houston, defensive end Calais Campbell and tackle Ronnie Stanley. Cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (hamstring) and Marcus Peters (quad/knee) were both limited.
BOWSER ON TRACK FOR SEASON DEBUT: Harbaugh said outside linebacker Tyus Bowser is expected to play at New Orleans, which would be his first action since he tore his Achilles in the 2021 season finale. Bowser, who led the Ravens with seven sacks last year, was removed from injured reserve and added to the 53-man roster earlier this week. He was listed as a full practice participant.
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