OWINGS MILLS — Ravens coach John Harbaugh took exception to the notion that there was a disconnect between quarterback Lamar Jackson and wide receiver Rashod Bateman.
A lot of the Ravens’ success in the passing game is predicated on those two being on the same page.
While it’s still a work in progress, Jackson and Bateman are developing a stronger rapport in this year’s training camp. In a simulated scrimmage on Saturday, Jackson completed four passes to Bateman for about 60 yards, including two receptions for more than 20 yards downfield.
That is a good sign with just five weeks until the regular-season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“It was great to see. [it’s] building a rapport with [Bateman] and Lamar and the other receivers, but to see ‘Bate’ get out there – running around, making moves, making catches – I think the sky’s the limit for him and this offense with the guys that we have here,” Ravens wide receivers coach Greg Lewis said. “It was awesome to see just plays being made, contested catches – going up grabbing the ball – by all the guys out there today on the offensive side of the ball, so I’m excited [with] where we’re headed.”
The Ravens have a lot invested in Bateman. He is a former first-round pick and the Ravens signed him to a two-year, $12,87 million contract extension in April that included a $3,44 million signing bonus.
This past year, Bateman appeared in 16 regular-season games and finished fifth on the team with 32 receptions for 367 yards and a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 41 yards in the two playoff games.
Bateman has dealt with various injuries, including hernia surgery that sidelined him for the first six games of his rookie season. The following year, he had foot surgery and was placed on injured reserve after six games.
Bateman was a highly touted prospect at the University of Minnesota, where he recorded 147 receptions for 2,395 yards and 19 touchdowns — fifth most in school history — in 31 games. He averaged 77.3 receiving yards per game,16.3 yards per catch, and had 10 100-yard receiving.
Bateman has yet to equal that type of production in the NFL, but the Ravens have seen his potential, such as his 75-yard touchdown catch-and-run against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2 of 2022. Unlike previous years, the team is working to get him more involved in the offense this offseason. Bateman is having a solid training camp despite dealing with some nagging injuries that sidelined him for a few days.
Harbaugh is optimistic that Bateman and Jackson will connect this season.
“Those guys are doing their jobs, and we’re trying to build the pass game around everybody we can,” Harbaugh said this offseason. “Rashod Bateman has a great future. Yes, he runs great routes. He’s developed into a great, great route runner, and I know Lamar [Jackson] wants to get him the ball as much as he can. So, the idea that he didn’t maybe … You’re saying he didn’t get as many passes as you would have liked him to get or whatever.
“Hey, I agree. I want ‘Bate’ to flourish and make a bunch of plays, and he’s going to do that, and I think he’ll be a bigger part of it next year, just by the fact that he was healthy all year this year [and] had a chance to establish himself that way, and he’ll be starting. He’ll be playing all those snaps, and he’ll rise to the occasion.”
