The Baltimore Ravens completely tore things down after missing the playoffs last season on the final play of the regular season. What was a team coached by John Harbaugh and led on offense by Todd Monken is now coached by Jesse Minter, with Declan Doyle calling the plays for Lamar Jackson and company on offense.
Jackson has been one of the best quarterbacks in all of football for a while now, and the Ravens are hoping that he has enough weapons to lead an elite offense this season. Derrick Henry is back at running back, and Zay Flowers will be the top wide receiver after receiving a massive new contract extension this offseason.
Rashod Bateman could also become a big factor this season with a bigger role. Ravens fans have been waiting for a breakout season from the former Minnesota star since he was drafted, but he has never come to fruition.
On Thursday at training camp, Bateman talked about his growth heading into 2026 and his goals for a bounce back season, via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.
“I just got to keep playing ball,” Bateman said on Thursday, per Zrebiec. “I don’t get too caught up in that. A lot of stuff goes into that, but I think the only thing I can do is control what I can control. It’s making plays (when) my number’s called.
“That’s what I’m looking forward to doing, bouncing back. That’s part of being a football player.”
In five seasons, Bateman has caught 157 balls for 2,147 yards and 15 touchdowns. Those are pretty underwhelming numbers given what was expected of Bateman when he first got into the NFL, but he has still shown flashes of ability during his time in Baltimore.
Maybe Doyle is the right coordinator for Bateman. The former first-round pick should be used in a more versatile role this season, with more snaps and targets out of the slot. If Jackson is able to find him out of those looks, Bateman could be ready to jump up the hierarchy of wide receivers in the NFL this season.
The Baltimore Ravens completely tore things down after missing the playoffs last season on the final play of the regular season. What was a team coached by John Harbaugh and led on offense by Todd Monken is now coached by Jesse Minter, with Declan Doyle calling the plays for Lamar Jackson and company on offense.