If there’s one offensive player who the Baltimore Ravens need to rebound more than anything, it might be wide receiver Rashod Bateman. 2025 was a complete disaster for him, and as we enter 2026, he’ll remain the WR2. They can’t afford to have one of the top weapons disappoint yet again.
Thankfully, Bateman seems to be trending in the right direction. Lamar Jackson has a ton of faith in him, and based on what we’ve seen in practice, the two are working in sync. That was made clear through this impressive contested catch during Thursday’s practice.
Dialing in that @Lj_era8 to @R_bateman2 connection. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/48XzBxRuyI
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 6, 2026
Simply put, Bateman looks like a rejuvenated wideout right now, and the new coaching staff is to thank. They’ve put Bateman in an outstanding situation—one he’s never really had the opportunity to be in. In a post-practice interview, the sixth-year pro spoke about his role in Declan Doyle’s offense.
"I'm moving around all over the place. In the past, I've been a one-dimensional receiver,” Bateman said. “I'm in the slot, outside. That's a blessing for me. I appreciate him for doing that so I get to show my talent more and more.”
Baltimore Ravens coaching shift is becoming best-case scenario for Rashod Bateman
Last year was a massive struggle for Bateman. Injuries once again diminished his progress, but even when healthy, he was rather ineffective. He was almost a non-factor in the offense, as he finished the year with a career-worst 224 receiving yards.
Bateman may benefit from the arrival of Doyle the most this year. It felt like his role was getting stale—he’s supposed to be a deep threat, but that was kind of all he was doing (and he wasn’t necessarily doing it well). Everyone knows how good of a route runner he can be, though, and the fact he was being thrown into that one-dimensional spot certainly limited his already lackluster and inconsistent production.
In Bateman’s 2024 breakout, he was a master at creating separation. He averaged a very impressive 3.6 yards of separation that season, per NFL Next Gen Stats, proving that he’s a piece that Baltimore can trust to get open. Unfortunately, 2025 didn’t see the same results, but maybe a healthier offense and more versatile scheme can help him return to form.
Sure, Bateman can still be a trusted deep threat; however, he has the skill set to do damage in the slot. His footwork and ability to create open passing lanes for Jackson would do wonders on underneath and intermediate routes, and he possesses the speed to do damage with the ball in his hands after the catch, too.
Doyle has clearly taken note and is exploiting that talent. It'll also keep opposing defenses guessing, giving Bateman that extra edge.
It’s not just Doyle who Bateman is praising either. He’s been blown away by what Jesse Minter has brought to Baltimore, specifically noting how connected they feel with him at training camp.
Rashod Bateman said that Jesse Minter’s calm and poise has helped the new head coach get well connected to the team “and that’s something we needed.”
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) August 6, 2026
That well-connected leadership should boost Bateman’s confidence in a year he desperately needs it. He made it known on social media how frustrating the 2025 campaign was. Fortunately, it sounds like he has a coaching staff that'll use him to the best of his abilities by his side.
Bateman is still a polarizing player. His struggles to keep producing every week have been obvious since his rookie year, which in turn has caused a lot, and I mean a lot, of uproar from the fanbase.
Many believe that the Ravens lack depth at wide receiver behind Zay Flowers, but Bateman can put that narrative to bed if he can blossom in Doyle’s new scheme. He’s off to a fantastic start. Hopefully that'll keep flowing through the regular season.
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