Another week of waiting for the first-round Ravens
The excitement surrounding the debut of the Ravens No. 27 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, wide receiver Rashod Bateman, will need to wait another week as news has come out that he will not be playing against the Indianapolis Colts (1-3) in Week 5.
#Ravens rookie WR Rashod Bateman will not make his debut this week, instead gearing up for Week 6 against the Chargers, per source. Ravens discussed a pitch count for the first-round pick, but coming off the groin injury they wanted to give it a little more time.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 11, 2021
However, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Ravens wide receiver Miles Boykin is expected to play.
While Bateman won’t play, the expectation is Ravens WR Miles Boykin will make his 2021 debut tonight. He has missed the first four games with a hamstring injury. https://t.co/rAu95p6Yw5
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) October 11, 2021
This news comes a week after the depth receivers, Devin Duvernay and James Proche, both performed admirably against the Denver Broncos (3-2). Proche become a late-game target for Lamar Jackson, catching five of six targets for 74 yards, while Duvernay caught three passes for 31 yards.
If Boykin is to see the field, he’ll likely do so in red zone situations, seeing as nearly 22% of his receptions have resulted in touchdowns (7/32).
Boykin does have a connection with Jackson, but with veteran receiver Sammy Watkins overtaking the role of an outside “big-body” target for Jackson, it remains to be seen how, or if, he will be included in the matchup against the Colts.