Ravens WR James Proche promises to never miss the playoffs again

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver James Proche has made a promise he can’t keep, but he’s definitely ingratiating himself well with the Ravens fanbase.

After posting an 8-9 record in the 2021 season, the Ravens missed the playoffs for the first time in the Lamar Jackson era.

Once touted as favorites for the AFC North crown, Baltimore suffered a long and painful fall from first place, finishing last in the division behind the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.

The Ravens have been named as a bounce-back candidate for 2022, and all the early signs point to greater success next season. The team will get a huge boost on both sides of the ball with players recovering from injury, and the front office has a decent amount of draft capital to work with this offseason.

Another ray of hope for this down-on-their-luck Ravens squad? One certain receiver’s unrivaled dedication to the team.

Ravens wide receiver James Proche is putting in the work this offseason

The sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft has worked his way up to a near-starting spot on the team, from balancing precariously on the roster bubble last training camp to seeing a few regular-season snaps.

Proche was utilized a bit more in his second season than his first, but many are still clamoring for the competitive wideout to get the playing time he deserves.

In 2021, Proche recorded 16 catches for 202 yards in 14 games played (compared to just one catch for 14 yards in 2020).

The former SMU standout grinded his way into the Ravens’ receiver room all throughout last year, climbing the ladder in OTAs, training camp, and preseason.

He played 28 percent of offensive snaps last season, thrown in the mix with the likes of Rashod Bateman, Marquise Brown, and Sammy Watkins but served as more of a second or third-string rotational player than a reliable target for Jackson.

With Watkins set to enter free agency this offseason, Proche could see an increased role in the offense next season — especially given the work he’s been putting in so far.

The sky’s the limit for Proche, who started from the bottom but is patiently making his way to the top. With a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work, James Proche could break out as a starting-caliber wide receiver for the Ravens in 2022.