WR RASHOD BATEMAN
On the significance of facing the Pittsburgh Steelers this week: "It's just another game. We know the task at hand. We know what's at stake; we just have to go play football."
On what makes the games against the Steelers so tough: "I just know that it means a lot to the organization, to the division, to the conference. We also know that it's a rivalry – it means something to the fans. So, there's a lot to play for, whether it's the division, whether it's for the fans or our community. So, there's definitely a lot to play for [in] this game."
On what it means to play for the division lead on Sunday: "It means a lot. We've been here before. We know the task at hand, so we just have to go do our job."
On how WR Diontae Johnson is settling in within the offense: "It's been amazing. Diontae [Johnson] is a phenomenal football player; we're glad to have him. He definitely gives us more weapons, [and we can] be more creative with our offense. [I'm] definitely excited to see what we do with him and do with this offense."
On the challenges that Pittsburgh will throw at him: "I would just say everywhere. Respect to them. They're good in all areas – in the backend, linebackers and up front. But like we always say week in and week out, we just have to come out and do our job and see what happens."
On what thinks about the Ravens-Steelers rivalry: "The last one we had, and we didn't win, so we just need to go win this win."
On if it sits well with the team knowing that Pittsburgh has won seven of the last eight matchups: "I wasn't aware of that at all, all I know is that we lost the ones that we should have won. I think we're all looking forward to going out and redeem ourselves from the past and get the 'dub.'"
On if it's safe to say this Steelers defense that talks so much and leads the team has not seen a Ravens' offense like this: "They have the right to speak. They're winning games, they should be confident, but I don't think they've faced an opponent like us [with] Lamar Jackson and all of the weapons that we have. It's definitely going to be a good battle, and I'm excited to play in it."
WR DIONTAE JOHNSON
On if he feels like he's getting a better grip on the offense now that he's a few weeks in: "Yes. They're working me in slowly. I just go out there whenever they call my number, go and do my thing. I can't go in there just expecting a lot [or putting] a lot of pressure on myself. However the game goes, I'm all for it."
On if it's weird being on the other side of the Steelers and Ravens rivalry: "Yes, it is. Just being back in that stadium, where it all started, it's going to be different. I actually have never been in the away locker room [in Pittsburgh], so that's going to be different for me, but I'm ready to get back there, just to see the good people that I made relationships with, but other than that, it's a big moment for me."
On if he still talks to his former Steelers teammates: "All the time. All the time."
On if he's talked to his former Steelers teammates this week: "I talk to George [Pickens] a lot [and] Calvin [Austin III], pretty much the offensive guys or defensive guys that I was close with [and] that I keep in touch with here and there."
On which guys he still specifically talks to from the Steelers: "I talk to T.J. Watt a little bit, Cam Heyward, George Pickens, Calvin Austin, Najee [Harris] a little bit, Cam Sutton – pretty much the guys that I was there with. We kind of have a good relationship, so I kind of keep in touch with everybody."
On if he has a favorite moment of the Ravens and Steelers rivalry, even though he was on the opposing side: "I remember one game when the Ravens came to [the Steelers] in 2021. I had a good game that game. I had two touchdowns." (laughter) "That's what I remember."
On how it's been getting up to speed and getting the offense down: "It's cool. It's just really [about] the terminology [that you] have to pay attention to, know what you're doing when you get in there, just to show them that you retain everything, and you're putting the right stuff on film. I'm just taking it one day at a time, so it's really just [about] learning the formations and stuff like that. Then obviously, my job is to just go out there and be me, and that's what I'm trying to do."
RB KEATON MITCHELL
On how it felt to be activated against Thursday: "It felt good. That was my first time putting on shoulder pads since December [of] last year, so it felt good. [It was] just like a warmup game. It felt good. I was blessed."
On if suiting up on Thursday was emotional: "For sure. Knowing that it was a [season]-ending injury, so just me being blessed to be able to run and play the game that I love, yes it was emotional."
On if he makes the backfield a three-headed monster: "[Derrick Henry and Justice Hill] are already warmed up [and] going, so I'm just going to warm up by kick return and whatever touches I get. I don't want to step on their toes, but they're doing a great job with the duo right now. But once I get going, [with] us three, it's going to be a dangerous backfield."
On his mindset when he gets the ball: "[It's] just the same mindset as last year; whatever I get, I have to make them go. So, [I'm] just having that same mindset."
On if he has to be patient to find his footing in the offense: "For sure. [I] just [have to] be patient, take advantage of every opportunity that I get, and hopefully I can get going fast."
On how big Sunday's game is: "Whatever plays they have in the gameplan – running it, special teams – whenever I'm out there on the field, just know that I had the game taken away from me for 10 months. Whatever I get out there, [I'll] just be blessed and make something happen."
On the rehab process: "The process from learning how to walk again, trying to get all of my flection back – it was a long process. Everybody came up to me and said, 'That went by fast,' but to me, it didn't go by fast, it seemed like it took forever. But, the process was [to] just grind every day. I didn't go home – I probably went home [for] like two weeks. I've just been up here trying to get back to my last year's self, so when I came back, I wasn't really missing nothing. It was a long process."
On if he's been able to run as fast as he did last year: "I hit faster than what I hit last year, so just being able to do that is just [me being] blessed for another opportunity."
On when he reached a speed faster than he did last year: "[I] was just doing speed work with the strength and conditioning staff."
On if he felt like he was back to his old self after he hit his top speed: "Yes. I knew [that] once I hit my speed, I was like, 'OK, now that I have that, it's time to hit the football portion of my ability back.' Just being able to play football, not just using my speed, because I can't really use my speed all the time in football."
On when he felt like he was his old self again: "I would say a couple of weeks ago, but I know I still have some stuff to improve on. So just day-by-day [and] game-by-game, I'm just going to be working on that."
CB TRE'DAVIOUS WHITE
On his reaction to being traded to Baltimore: "It's exciting. Anytime someone trades for you, that means that they want you, and they see some potential in you, so for that, I'm grateful, and I'm thankful. I'm just ready to get on the field and play some football. I've been inactive for a while, so it's exciting to be able to get an opportunity to go out there and showcase my talents."
On his thoughts after learning it was the Ravens who were acquiring him: "For a long time, I always respected what this team has always been about [and] the culture of it. [There have been] so many great players in the past, so from afar, I always respected the grit, the hunger and the tenacity this group always played with – and the attitude. So, anytime I can come in and add and be a part of it, I'm all for it."
On the expectations for himself in Baltimore: "Come in and play football. Line up, get the call, try to look at the offense and try to eliminate things; look at formations and try to go in and make plays. I'm coming in [to] play sound football and play Ravens football – 11 guys to the ball – and play team, total defense. Everything is always going to pay off when you play together."
On the Ravens secondary: "[There are] a lot of guys in this secondary that I've respected for a long period of time – Eddie [Jackson], Marlon [Humphrey], 'B-Steve' [Brandon Stephens], Marcus [Williams]. Marcus and I actually trained together during the [2017] combine coming out, so I've always had a lot of respect for those guys. So, anytime I can come in and add what I can do to it ... I feel like this group is great, [and] we're putting it all together. The NFL is a week-to-week league, so you never get too high and never get too low. I feel like, if the group keeps confidence in itself, then the play will speak for itself."
On if he's had conversations about his role and when he could see the field: "This team is all about earning, and so, if I go out there in practice and practice well and communicate well and learn the playbook and then go out there – and the coaches are confident in what I can do – that's all I'm [about]. If I can go out there and earn it, then that's the way I want it to be."
On what he thinks it will take for him to get back to his All-Pro level: "Just playing consistent football, just continuing to let the reps stack up and getting comfortable in the defense and learning my teammates, learning where my help is on the field, so [that] I can pretty much play to my strengths. So, I feel like, if I get back and just play football ... [I'm] getting around guys that are going to pump me up, just like I'm going to pump them up, and I feel like, in this locker room, that's what we have."
On his first real practice out there today: "Oh, it was pretty good. Just to get around the football, just communicate with the guys, learn the defense, and actually, when the bullets are flying, be able to pretty much execute the defense on the fly, that's the most important thing. So, I feel like today was a step in the right direction."
On what he sees in a Steelers offense led by QB Russell Wilson: "I haven't gotten to watch the Steelers too much when they were with Justin Fields, so I don't know what the difference [is] between he and Russell Wilson in the offense, but what I do know is the Steelers are a hard-nosed group that's always been historic; [there's] history with them. I had an opportunity to play [against] them a couple times when I was with Buffalo, so I already know what the Steelers are about; they're about playing tough defense, running the ball and then making big plays on the outside. So, with any team, on defense, if you limit big-time plays and limit explosives, you'll have a chance."
