Ravens Coach John Harbaugh Gives Promising Update On Mark Andrews

The Baltimore Ravens, who defeated the 49ers and Dolphins in convincing fashion in Weeks 16 and 17, respectively, concluded the 2023 NFL regular season as one of the favourites to win this year’s Super Bowl.

What’s more amazing is that they succeeded without using one of the key weapons on their roster. Due to an ankle injury he sustained against the Bengals in Week 11, Mark Andrews was sidelined for the final six weeks of the regular season.

Fortunately, it doesn’t appear like the Ravens will be without Andrews for too long.

During his January 16 press conference, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh gave a very positive update on Andrews’ recovery from his injury.

“I think today was his best showing, so far,” Harbaugh said in his press conference. “He really took a big step — what you saw today, we saw as well. So, it’s encouraging. We’ll just have to see how it goes.”

Andrews had returned to practice during the team’s first-round bye and it sounds like he is progressing very well as works his way back for the Ravens’ playoff run.

The Ravens’ Best Pass Catcher

Throughout Lamar Jackson’s career, the Ravens have struggled to provide him with particularly inspiring options at wide receiver.

They have had no such problem at tight end.

The same year they drafted Jackson, they also picked Andrews and he wasted no time making an impact for the team.

Andrews became one of the top tight ends in the league in just his second NFL season, catching 64 catches for 852 yards and 10 touchdowns.

He has been the team’s best pass catcher and Jackson’s favourite target ever since.

Andrews even managed to tie for second place on the squad in catches during the 2023 campaign despite sitting out seven games.

Now he could give the Ravens a huge boost ahead of the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

Isaiah Likely Filling in Nicely

One reason the Ravens have been able to continue having success on offense in Andrews’ absence has been the play of Isaiah Likely.

Selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, Likely entered the league facing an uphill battle for playing time behind Andrews.

He has proven himself to be a reliable TE2 in his first two seasons and has played well in Andrews’ absence.

Likely has made 21 receptions for 322 receptions and 5 touchdowns since the team’s former All-Pro was injured in Week 11, however he only appeared in 19 snaps in one of those games while the backup quarterback of the unit completed passes to him.

During his time as the starter, he caught five passes for seventy-nine yards and a touchdown against the Jaguars and five passes for eighty-three yards and a touchdown against the Rams.

His numbers over the six games would put him on a 17-game pace for 59 catches, 912 yards, and 14 touchdowns. The touchdown total seems improbable over the course of the year, but the receiving yards would have been the fifth most in the league in 2023.

If Andrews isn’t ready to go for the matchup with the Texans, the Ravens will still have a tight end they can turn to in big moments.

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