Is it possible to get a win on your bye week? If so, it looks as if the Baltimore Ravens may have just secured one. While they do not have a game to play this weekend as they earned a first-round bye via the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, they are still on the practice field getting some work in, and unbelievably, starting tight end Mark Andrews was suited up and out there with them.
Having Andrews back for a Super Bowl run is massive news for the Ravens, as they already have a stellar defense and efficient offense. Adding another weapon into the mix makes them that much more dangerous. Let’s examine the situation a bit closer.
Mark Andrews Injury Update
Just eight weeks ago, Andrews cracked his fibula after a hip-drop tackle from Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson. An injury that was known to be serious right away, and many had believed it would be season-ending.
While many believed that to be the case, head coach John Harbaugh was one of the few saying not to count him out just yet and said the tight end had an “outside chance” of returning later this season.
“Mark is so darn tough. You say a guy eats, sleeps, and breathes football; that’s Mark Andrews,” Harbaugh said. “So, he’s going to do everything he can to get back down the road.”
Fast forward to the current day, and Andrews has been designated to return from injured reserve, opening his 21-day window to be moved to the 53-man roster and setting up what Harbaugh had hoped would be possible just two months ago.
Andrews Joining a Well-Oiled Machine
Andrews’ presence on the field was undoubtedly missed, and even now, despite missing six games, Andrews still leads the Ravens in receiving touchdowns with six. However, the Ravens were able to keep pushing forward without him and were able to continue their dominance over the rest of the league in his absence.
During his time healing, the Ravens were able to steam-roll through opponents, lock up the first-round bye week in the playoffs, and may very well have sure up another MVP trophy for Lamar Jackson. In addition to that, Andrews’ backup, Isaiah Likely, has come in and been a budding star while he has been out.
MORE: Baltimore Ravens Depth Chart
Since taking over as the starter, Likely has accumulated 21 catches for 322 yards and scored five touchdowns in six games. Now, the two of them together have a chance to make up one of the most dynamic tight end duos in the league and will just add another dangerous weapon for teams to worry about as the Ravens look to roll through the AFC to a Super Bowl appearance.
Want to predict the results of the 2023 NFL postseason with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? How about looking into in-depth breakdowns of team depth charts or the NFL playoff schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with all that and more!
