Ravens WR Bateman ‘will never’ wear Guardian Cap helmet: ‘Ruins everyone’s swag’ | News, scores, highlights, stats & rumors

Some NFL players choose bravado over safety when it comes to the Guardian Cap.

The padded headgear will first be available in 2024 for players who want to wear it during games. That doesn’t mean every player will opt for the option, though. Some, like Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman, find the gear uncomfortable and off-putting.

“It ruins everybody’s swag on the field,” Bateman said, according to ESPN’s Turron Davenport. “You’ll never see me wear that in a game.”

Tennessee Titans center Lloyd Cushenberry shared a similar sentiment, saying the Guardian Cap looks “crazy” but the safety aspect is noteworthy.

“I don’t know if I should wear it in games,” Titans center Lloyd Cushenberry said, per Davenport. “Swag over safety is a little bit. It looks a little silly, but I get the safety.”

The caps weigh about 12.5 to 14 ounces and attach to the outer layer of a football helmet. The equipment company’s website says it reduces impact by up to 33 percent. It was first mandated for certain positions in the early portions of training camp in 2022 and has only been expanded since then.

The caps have a proven positive effect and some players, like Titans running back Tyjae Spears, are currently internally debating whether to use the equipment.

“The Guardian Cap might take the swag down a few notches,” Spears said, per Davenport. “I could wear it. You might not see those effects now, but you gotta get older. So I think I’m going to protect myself.”

The caps will feature team logos for the first time in 2024, so the look could be visually supported by that. As players wear them more often, the flashy nature of the look could fade and the mindset of many could shift from safety to swagger.