Rashod Bateman talks about ‘unselfish’ playmakers for the Ravens in the aftermath of Mark Andrews’ injury

The Baltimore Ravens invested heavily in the wide receiver position this offseason- something out of the norm for the organization- by signing veterans Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor and using a first-round pick on Zay Flowers in the draft.

With those three joining former first-round pick Rashod Bateman and a new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken, the hope for the Ravens was to open up the passing attack in a way never before seen with quarterback Lamar Jackson at the helm.

Even with all of the additions at wide receiver, the understanding was that Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews would remain the focal point of the aerial attack and Jackson’s favorite target, significantly when the play deviates from the script. While Flowers led the team in targets and receiving yards, it was still Andrews’ show in big moments, particularly in the red zone, where he led the team with six touchdowns.

With Andrews out indefinitely now with an ankle injury suffered on the team’s opening drive against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11, Jackson will look to his revamped receiving corps to help carry the load down the season’s final stretch and into the playoffs.

When speaking with the media following Wednesday’s practice, Bateman was asked if he sees it as a group effort to make up for Andrews’ absence.

“It’s always a group effort,” Bateman said. “I think this world kind of gets caught up in this wide receiver [No.] 1 kind of thing, but for the Baltimore Ravens this year, I think that we have proved that anybody can have a big game, whether it’s Mark [Andrews], ‘OBJ’ [Odell Beckham Jr.], Zay [Flowers], myself [or] anybody [like the] running backs. We play as a unit. We play unselfish, and I think that’s why we’ve had success so far.”

Beckham with the big game in the win over the Bengals as he caught four passes for 116 yards, while Agholor and Bateman both caught touchdowns. Flowers demonstrated his home-run ability on a screen pass he took for a 68-yard touchdown that was later called back due to a questionable holding call on Beckham on the play.

Second-year tight end Isaiah Likely will need to step up as well, but Baltimore’s wide receivers have a chance to prove their worth over the season’s final months.