If there is one thing the world has no shortage of, it’s “Is This the Year Rashod Bateman Breaks Out?” articles. The writer of this post has produced at least three of these, as have countless other Baltimore Ravens writers, this preseason alone.
It’s easy to make fun of how much this specific story angle has been covered, but now, it’s looking like it’s finally happening. He had four receptions for a career-high 121 yards, good for 30.1 yards per reception (also a career-high) in the 41-31 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football.
The 121 yards are actually 8.4% of his total career receiving yards (1,440 across 41 games) entering the night.
Bateman had one touchdown, a 49-yard reception that reportedly traveled 58.3 yards in the air. He also had a 59-yarder, which is good for Lamar Jackson’s longest completion of the season thus far.
This breakout performance followed last week’s outing, in which he had what was then a season-high 71 yards receiving.
Through seven weeks, he already has a new career high in touchdown receptions in a single season, with three.
This former Minnesota Golden Gopher is getting it done right now because he’s embodying the “Row the Boat” philosophy that defines the culture of his collegiate program.
His college coach, P.J. Fleck, described Row the Boat as “a never-give-up mantra” when he explained the full meaning of the phrase at 2017 Big Ten Media Day.
That’s Bateman, who persevered despite all the injuries piling up. Bateman has yet to achieve a season with the statistical production expected of a first-round draft selection and has caught plenty of criticism.
However, right now, he’s doing the one thing that can silence the critics for good—putting up solid numbers.
