Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman was recently a guest on the “Nightcap” podcast with Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson.
The 25-year-old had a few hilarious moments on the leisurely podcast. One of the things Bateman remarked about was the need for top-level fitness while playing with Lamar Jackson as his quarterback.
Rashod Bateman Reveals How Playing With Lamar Jackson Presents Unique Challenges
On the show, Sharpe asked Bateman about his thought process after breaking the huddle with the offense. The Ravens’ receiver went into detail while answering the question, noting the need for extra fitness on a team with No. 8:
“You better be in shape! That’s why it’s important to be on the field and be able to get those reps with Lamar. Because he’s the type of quarterback that you gotta practice to stay alive and learn how to play like that. It ain’t easy, bro!”
This is hilarious and great perspective from Rashod Bateman on what life as a WR is like playing with Lamar Jackson:
“You better be in shape brother. … It ain’t easy man. A lot of people can’t even relate to that type of ball. … When we be practicing, Harbs definitely let… pic.twitter.com/98OxiGb9v1
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) January 14, 2025
“A lot of people can’t even relate to that type of ball, so I mean, it’s tough.”
“I would definitely say (that) when we be practicing hard, we definitely let it play. Go about 10 seconds longer than a normal coach would. Because that’s how long L (Lamar) can extend a play, for sure.”
Bateman knows on a personal level how much a receiver has to stay fit and ready to go. He’s been one of the biggest beneficiaries of playing alongside Jackson. His improvements in this year’s regular season prove that he may be ready for bigger things in the NFL.
The fourth-year receiver has posted career highs across the board this year. Playing as the Ravens’ de facto WR2, Bateman snagged nine touchdown receptions and tallied 756 yards on 67 receptions this past season.
The Golden Gophers product will be crucial as a safety valve in the Ravens’ Divisional Round matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills’ secondary will look to blanket Isaiah Likely, Mark Andrews, and Zay Flowers as much as they can. This will likely leave Bateman with some favorable 1-on-1 matchups, which he has to make the best of.
This season, Jackson has a quick throw rate of 54% (the lowest of his career), which means he’s holding the ball longer than ever before. Prior to this year, his previous career low was 56.3%, and at one point, 61.3% of his passes were quick throws.
Of 28 QBs with 300+ pass attempts, Jackson held the ball the second-longest this season (trailing only Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold). Of the quarterbacks still alive in the playoffs, Jackson holds the ball the longest.
Baltimore blew out the Bills in their matchup earlier this season. The team’s rushing offense, which often uses multi-back formations, will be a tough nut for Sean McDermott and his coaching staff to crack. Yet, if the Ravens fall behind at any point, Bateman could have a crucial role to play in getting them back.