Rashod Bateman took a shot at Eric DeCosta in a since-deleted tweet after the Baltimore Ravens general manager made some critical comments about the team's wide receivers group Wednesday.
#Ravens WR Rashod Bateman taking aim at General Manager Eric DeCosta
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 2, 2023
DeCosta made comments saying: "If I had an answer, that would probably mean I would have some better receivers." pic.twitter.com/cCeH2R8Ofe
The Ravens' lack of star power from the wideout position has been a talking point among the flock of fans in recent years since former MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson (referenced as "#8" in Bateman's tweet) took over as Baltimore's starter midway through the 2018 campaign.
Selected as the 27th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Bateman is coming off of his second straight injury-riddled season. The Minnesota product suffered a midseason foot injury and didn't play past Week 8, posting 15 receptions for 285 yards and two touchdowns (both coming in the first two games) on 28 targets in six games.
Since Jackson's first full season under center as the starter, the Ravens have only had two pass-catchers go over 1,000 receiving yards in a season: wideout Marquise Brown (1,008 yards) and tight end Mark Andrews (1,361) in 2021. Brown was traded on the first day of the 2022 NFL Draft to the Arizona Cardinals.
Andrews led Baltimore in targets (113), receptions (73) and receiving yards (847) by a wide margin last season, while also pacing the Ravens with his five receiving touchdowns.
Soon after posting his criticism of DeCosta, Bateman deleted the tweet and posted a brief apology.
my apologies
— Rashod Bateman (@R_bateman2) March 2, 2023
Brown also chimed in in apparent support of Bateman.
Former #Ravens WR Hollywood Brown is voicing support for Rashod Bateman.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 2, 2023
Brown was traded by Baltimore to the #Cardinals last season for a 1st round pick. pic.twitter.com/7prvy1xCrm
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