Travis Kelce is the most prominent tight end of the current era. That makes a lot of sense because, in addition to being an all-around talent, he has transcended sports to become a true celebrity. Mark Andrews is also more than capable of creating an impression in Baltimore. However, the Ravens’ playing time has been scarce this season.
The tight end moved forward before Baltimore’s first playoff game against the Houston Texans. When Andrews went back to the practice field, he appeared to be fairly mobile if we believe the stories. However, as of Friday afternoon, it was not anticipated that he would wear a suit for the match.
And while that might be disappointing, this past week of work has still been a positive.
Let’s break that down, along with examining the general context of Andrews’ injury.
What Happened to Andrews?
Injuries are an unfortunate reality of pro sports. Whether you’re a star player or a bench warmer, your body will ultimately decide if you’re able to play. And in Andrews’ case, he hasn’t been able to go for over a month.
During the Ravens’ Week 11 date with the Bengals, the tight end caught a first-quarter pass and ran for the end zone. He was stopped short of the goal line, and, adding injury to insult, remained on the turf in pain. He would leave the game and spend the rest of the evening out of the action.
After that, though, things got a bit murkier. Ravens coach John Harbaugh initially said it looked like Andrews was done for the season, but after an MRI, things seemed a bit rosier.
“There might be an outside chance that he could get back at some point in time,” he said. “We’ll just have to see how that goes. I don’t want to say that’s definitive by any stretch, but there is some optimism.”
And, ahead of the club’s playoff opener, it seemed like that optimism was justified. Andrews, while technically still on injured reserve, joined his teammates in practice and apparently pulled in at least one leaping catch.
If you go by the Ravens’ official injury report, he was a limited participant in Tuesday’s workout and a full participant on Wednesday and Thursday. The tight end is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game.
When Will Andrews Return?
Based on his injury report designation, you might be thinking that Andrews will be ready to suit up for the Ravens when the Texans show up on the field in Baltimore. And while anything is possible in the playoffs, it doesn’t seem like that will be the case.
As laid out by the club’s official website, Harbaugh said his tight end’s availability is “up in the air.” Andrews, for his part, said that he’d need to see how he felt and if he thought he could contribute.
“It’s how I feel at the end of the day,” he explained during the week. “Knowing how good this team is, how good our players are, how good our tight ends are, if I feel like I’m going to be helpful to the team, I’m going to go. If I feel like I’m close but not there, I’m going to let these guys go and hopefully get there next weekend.”
Ian Rapoport, however, reported that Andrews isn’t expected to be activated ahead of Saturday’s game. That would push his potential return back a week, assuming the Ravens reach the AFC Championship.
His Progress Still Bodes Well for Baltimore
And while it would be a drag for everyone in Baltimore to have gotten a glimpse of Andrews only to have him return to the sidelines, his week of work was still a positive.
Granted, anything can happen in the playoffs, but the regular season would indicate that the Ravens should be able to beat the Texans, even without Andrews. The top-seeded club didn’t get to that position by chance; the Baltimore defense allowed the fewest points in the entire league during the regular season, and Lamar Jackson is a uniquely talented player.
Andrews is usually Jackson’s top target, but Isiah Likely has stepped up in the veteran’s absence. While his 30 catches for 411 yards and five touchdowns aren’t mind-blowing totals, they do prove he’s capable of filling the void for another game.
And on the subject of Andrews, there’s a potential silver lining to his delayed return. With all due respect to the Texans, the Ravens will need to be at their best to beat either the Chiefs or Bills. By giving their tight end a longer runway to get himself back up to speed, there’s a better chance of having him near his best in that crucial contest.
It would be a shame, after all, to get him on the field, only to have rust render him ineffective.
Is that somewhat of a gamble? Of course. Nothing can be taken for granted in the postseason. But if everything goes according to plan, playing the long game could help the Ravens claim the ultimate prize.
