The Baltimore Ravens were once again without Rashod Bateman in practice on Thursday. After spraining his ankle in the team’s Week 10 win over the Minnesota Vikings, Bateman was one of five Ravens absent from practice on Wednesday, and was one of the four who remained out on Thursday.
Bateman’s injury occurred in the middle of the third quarter in Sunday’s win, after being brought down in what appeared to be a hip drop tackle by Minnesota cornerback Isaiah Rodgers. He continued after the injury and even caught a key two-point conversion try later in the game. Following the game, the 25-year-old reported the injury as a high ankle sprain, which typically keeps wide receivers out for at least two games.
Still, Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken hopes Bateman will return to practice on Friday. Even if he is back on the field, though, his status is in doubt for Sunday’s matchup with the Cleveland Browns.
If Bateman is unable to go, that should put second-year wide receiver Devontez Walker in line to play.
Devontez Walker could make return to the field in Week 11
Walker has not suited up since Baltimore’s Week 5 loss to the Houston Texans. He did not get any offensive snaps during that contest, though, as he had dealt with an oblique injury throughout the week. That lost practice time due to the injury must have had an effect on his snap share, as he has since been relegated to a healthy scratch in the past four games.
The reason for Walker’s inactive streak is not as much his play on offense, but likely due to better special teamers and a deeper receiving group. The 24-year-old has yet to prove himself as a necessity on offense, and if Head Coach John Harbaugh can sacrifice his services to get better in other areas like special teams, he is going to take that chance every time. On Sunday, though, Walker should have the opportunity to stake his claim as a consistent threat on the outside.
Walker’s Baltimore tenure has not seen him get too many looks, but when the ball is thrown his way, he is going to make a splash play more often than not. He has been targeted six times in two NFL seasons, hauling in four of the passes. Of those four receptions, he has scored a touchdown in three of them and has moved the chains each time.
The former North Carolina standout is also averaging 20.3 yards per reception in his NFL career. With a deep threat like Bateman potentially out, Walker could be the perfect solution. There should be an open spot for Walker on the active gameday roster, and Harbaugh and the coaching staff need to give him a chance as they enter a critical stretch in their 2025 season.