When Rashod Bateman looks out onto the M&T Bank Stadium field Sunday, he'll see what he wants to become wearing silver and black.

The Raiders' Davante Adams is one of the NFL's premier wide receivers, widely known for precise route-running and releases that can twist cornerbacks into a gameday pretzel.

When Bateman was going into his second NFL season, after a frustrating injury-hampered rookie year, former Ravens coach Keith Williams introduced him to Adams. The two wide receivers hit it off and have stayed in touch since.

"He's definitely a role model of mine," Bateman said. "He's a good dude that goes about his business the right way. So definitely excited to see him on the field."

Bateman said Adams gave him good advice the past couple of years that stuck with him. It has been a challenge for Bateman with injuries and developing chemistry with quarterback Lamar Jackson.

But Adams wasn't an instant hit either. In his first two seasons, he had 446 and 483 receiving yards, respectively, and scored just four touchdowns. Ultimately, it clicked with Aaron Rodgers and they became a fearsome duo, but Adams didn't have his first 1,000-yard campaign until Year 5.

"He just told me to keep stacking each day," Bateman said. "Obviously, we talk about receiver play a lot, how I approach the game and how to take care of myself. He just told me to go hard every play. And I would definitely say I took a lot from his game."

Adams was impressed with how receptive Bateman was to his mentoring.

"Anybody that's always looking to get better and looking to do the right thing, it's always easy for a guy like to me to teach," Adams said two years ago. "I like to think of him as an open vessel. He just wants to learn. He wants to keep getting better. … He definitely shows flashes of a receiver that's going to be great."

Bateman showed one of those flashes in the season-opener in Kansas City, elevating to make a 38-yard fingertip grab with less than a minute left in the game. That catch set up Baltimore's chance to win the game with three shots from the 10-yard line.

"I did what Lamar told me to do. I created separation, got up the sideline and made the catch," Bateman said after the game.

But two plays later, Jackson saw Bateman streaking across his field of vision and thought he was going to stop in the end zone. Jackson threw it just as Zay Flowers was breaking wide open behind Bateman and the pass sailed between the two receivers.

It was another missed opportunity for Jackson and Bateman, a continuation of a theme from last season. Advanced metrics show that Bateman has been among the league's best at getting separation, but he doesn't have the production to match.

Bateman hauled in two of five targets (for 53 yards) against the Chiefs. He picked up 15 yards when he shook cornerback Jaylen Watson easily on a stop route that created four yards of separation. After that, Jackson tried two deep shots to Bateman but overthrew both.

"I definitely won a lot of matchups today; a lot of us did," Bateman said. "We just have to find ways to execute and get the ball to the playmakers – whatever that looks like."