While lately the NFL has been puzzled with Aaron Rodgers‘ record-fast ACL tear recovery, Rashod Bateman was the league’s recovery hero before Rodgers even injured his ankle. The Ravens‘ WR saw his first two NFL seasons get cut short with repeated injuries and didn’t even believe he was going to make it to the current season.

That, however, hasn’t been the case. Bateman not only went on to have his greatest-ever season but is actively contesting for the Super Bowl – arguably being the favorite. Let’s hear the WR’s recovery story from the man himself, who nearly gave another season battling with pain.

Rashod Bateman reveals preseason uncertainty

Bateman has a 4-year, $12.6 million contract with the Ravens, that takes his net worth to an estimated $5 million. But he had barely justified the figures this season, which easily could have been his third in succession to turn wrong. Although it didn’t, but the WR isn’t ashamed to accept how close it was.

Bateman went open about the mental breakdown he had last week. “When I first got back here, me and the coaches and training staff, we didn’t even know if I was going to be able to play this year. We thought I might need another surgery“. The WR, crumbled in pain, thought he would lose another season.

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“I was in pain and I wasn’t seeing the results. I wasn’t able to physically run or cut or put pressure on my foot“, he revealed why it came that far as things weren’t changing for him. “I was supposed to be able to train this offseason and show up for training camp in tip-top shape… Unfortunately, my foot took a left turn this past offseason“, things went out of the plan, the WR further revealed.

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But eventually, he did come back. “I’m not going to say it’s been easy, but that’s because I’m hungry, I know my abilities, I know what I’m capable of.” And the WR was back with his best-ever form.

Bateman’s resurged 2023 season

Bateman missed 5 games in his rookie season due to a groin injury. The following year, he went back at it. Before he could properly recover from the follow-up groin injury, a pedal lisfranc sprain and the following surgery ended his season. The WR was able to play only 4 games in the 2022 season, totaling only 16 games in his first two seasons.

But things have taken a ‘right turn’ this time. He has a career-best 367 yards for 32 receives and one touchdown. His performance from the Dolphins game particularly earned HC John Harbaugh‘s praise where he had 4 receives for 54 yards. Harbaugh called the WR display a “prelude to what’s coming.”

And it is coming, indeed. Bateman has come back to witness a 13-4 regular season, and his maiden Super Bowl is likely loading at the end of it. Aaron Rodgers’ recovery might be the more talked about, but Bateman sets the example of not only making an unlikely recovery but following that up with one’s best shape ever. Which is something truly unheard of in NFL history.

Watch This Story: Aaron Rodgers Is the ‘Last Human’ Bill Belichick Talked To on the Football Field, per Pat McAfee