Ravens first-round WR Rashod Bateman to have groin surgery

UPDATE: HC John Harbaugh reports that rookie receiver Rashod Bateman will have groin surgery and be out until at least September. This will put a damper on his usage early in the season to be sure.

UPDATE: HC John Harbaugh says Rashod Bateman will miss a “number of weeks” with a groin injury.

The Baltimore Ravens are extremely thin at wide receiver after multiple pass-catchers are dealing with injuries. The latest is rookie and first-round pick Rashod Bateman, who limped off the practice field after making a cut and pulling up injured. The good news is that the injury isn’t structural, but instead a soft-tissue injury, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Soft tissue injuries, such as a groin pull or hamstring strain of course aren’t great outcomes either of course. Much will be determined by the severity of the injury, and we won’t know much until we hear the reports of further testing. But we’d expect the team to be cautious with an injury like this, as they can often pop back up on a player and become recurring.

Besides Bateman, Marquise Brown, Miles Boykin and Deon Cain all have been dealing with their own injuries. Brown, the Ravens No. 1 receiver has missed a big chunk of time due to a hamstring injury, but appears about ready to return, which is needed. Out of all of this, new Ravens receiver Sammy Watkins has been the healthiest and could be leaned on to start the season.