No one’s a bigger fan of Lamar Jackson than his Baltimore Ravens teammates. In Rashod Bateman‘s Week 6 debut, he, too, fell under the spell of Jackson’s quarterback magic.
Bateman didn’t plan on taking this long to play his first NFL game, but a groin injury caused him to miss the first five weeks of the season.
After a patient recovery, the 2021 first-round pick suited up for the Ravens’ game against the Los Angeles Chargers, and in that one game, Bateman has already become a bit of a Jackson fanboy.
Ravens WR Rashod Bateman on his first game with Lamar Jackson: “I don’t even know how to put that into words because I’ve looked up to him even before I got to college. It was definitely an honor playing alongside him, and I’m looking forward to it for some time to come.”
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) October 17, 2021
Jackson wasn’t even at his best against the Chargers — he went 19-of-27 for 162 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Had Bateman played with Jackson against the Kansas City Chiefs or the Indianapolis Colts, he might have just been speechless.
Bateman’s words of praise to his quarterback only repeat what everybody has been saying about Lamar Jackson so far in 2021. Bateman himself, however, has become a fresh topic for this Ravens team after dazzling in his NFL debut on Sunday.
Baltimore Ravens rookie Rashod Bateman is starry-eyed for Lamar Jackson
Bateman caught four passes on six targets and finished with 29 receiving yards, third-most on the team. The rookie wideout helped fill in for Sammy Watkins, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury, and mostly played the role of a possession receiver.
All four of Bateman’s catches went for first downs, and he showed glimpses of his ability to pick up additional yards after the catch.
A bit of bad news to spoil the rookie and Jackson’s budding connection: both of Jackson’s interceptions that game came on targets to Bateman.
The first was Jackson’s fault entirely, but the second was a perfect pass that bounced off Bateman’s chest and was intercepted by a Chargers defender.
That one will likely stick to the back of Bateman’s mind, but the rookie knows he’ll have more chances to develop chemistry with Jackson. The feelings, after all, are mutual.
Jackson said of Bateman’s debut: “ looked pretty good for his first game back – his first NFL game. He was making tough catches, getting north, getting upfield. He did great.”
A young, promising rookie. An experienced, versatile quarterback. This could be the beginning of a beautiful Ravens friendship.