Rashod Bateman NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds: Ravens' first-round receiver could miss start of season with injury

Earlier today, SportsLine put out odds on where Saints All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas could be dealt by the Nov. 2 NFL Trade Deadline, and the Baltimore Ravens were third-favorites. Oddsmakers may have to move the Ravens up to the favored role if a (likely) groin injury suffered by first-round rookie wideout Rashod Bateman in practice Tuesday is serious. Bateman is currently +5000 at Caesars Sportsbook to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

According to reports, Bateman was running a slant against Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters and fell immediately to ground. The rookie walked inside the team's facility with pronounced limp and was followed by general manager Eric DeCosta. Last week, Bateman also missed a bit of time due to muscle tightness. He had just returned to practice Monday.

While nothing is certain yet, it does appear all the beat writers agree it's a likely groin injury. There are three types of those injuries: Grade 1, which usually means 2-3 weeks on the sideline; Grade 2, which is 3-6 weeks; and Grade 3, which is 3-4 months. Coach John Harbaugh did not address the media Tuesday, so there was no further update on Bateman's status. Fellow wideouts Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin are still nursing hamstring injuries themselves.

Bateman was the No. 27 overall pick in this year's draft out of the University of Minnesota. He was a monster in 2019, named Big Ten Receiver of the Year and a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, but opted out of 2020 … only to opt back in, play a few games and opt back out.

Bateman had been set with an Over/Under of 600.5 receiving yards this year, but the books have taken that down; that seems low for a first-round pick, but keep in mind the Ravens run the ball more than anyone. They have never had a player win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and last time the Ravens had any 1,000-yard receiver was in 2016 with Mike Wallace.

With Bateman, Brown and free-agent addition Sammy Watkins, the Ravens have three first-round picks at wide receiver for the first time in franchise history. Baltimore fielded one of the five-lowest-graded wide receiving corps of the 2020 season.

The Ravens open preseason Saturday vs. New Orleans, which is having problems of its own right now. Baltimore kicks off the regular season on Monday, Sept. 13 in Las Vegas. The Raiders are +4.5 on the NFL odds. 

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