The Ravens — and quarterback Lamar Jackson — will quickly journey into uncharted territory.
When Baltimore travels to Los Angeles this weekend and takes the sphere in opposition to the Chargers, it’s going to mark the official starting of the Ravens’ new regular for possible the rest of the season: life with out Mark Andrews.
Jackson was sincere Tuesday when requested if the Ravens are extra ready for this actuality than in years’ previous.
“I don’t know. I really don’t know,” mentioned Jackson, who adopted his frank uncertainty together with his typical reward for the Ravens’ cross catchers.
Replacing a participant like Andrews — a three-time Pro Bowl choice, 2021 All-Pro and among the best tight ends within the NFL — is a tall process. It will, as coach John Harbaugh famous after Andrews injured his ankle in Thursday’s win, must be finished within the mixture.
But the participant with the very best probability to assist fill Andrews’ giant footwear is Isaiah Likely. Can he?
“[I’m] really just being where my feet are,” Likely mentioned. “As coach always says: ‘Next man up mentality.’ I love Mark, it hurt when he went down. Mark told me, ‘Just stay the course and stay ready all the time.’”
Likely mentioned he spoke on the cellphone with Andrews on Tuesday for the primary time because the harm, noting his pal is in “good spirits.”
“Mark is like that big brother role in that aspect, and he’s done a fantastic job helping me day in and day out,” Likely mentioned. “Having him still be able to talk to me even after his injury definitely was heartwarming.”
Likely is predicted to slip into the beginning tight finish function with Andrews out. The second-year professional stood outlast preseason and has displayed flashes at occasions in regular-season video games, however he’s largely performed behind Andrews, hasn’t gotten many alternatives and has at occasions did not capitalize on these he’s acquired.
In 27 profession video games, Likely has 45 receptions for 462 yards and three touchdowns, however the majority of that manufacturing got here final season. The 23-year-old has simply 9 catches for 89 yards in 11 video games this season whereas enjoying lower than one-third of the Ravens’ offensive snaps.
In the six seasons since being chosen in the identical draft class as Jackson, Andrews has missed simply two video games due to an harm. His reliability and consistency had been the linchpins within the Ravens’ passing assault, serving as each Jackson’s security valve and his prime crimson zone goal.
“We’ve been bread and butter, peanut butter and jelly,” Jackson mentioned Thursday about his relationship with Andrews.
Harbaugh mentioned Monday that Andrews’ high-ankle harm “wasn’t as bad as initially feared” and that the 28-year-old has an “outside chance” to return later this season.
The two finest video games of Likely’s profession got here final season with Andrews sidelined. In Week 8 in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Andrews left with an harm and Likely emerged with six catches for 77 yards and a landing. He scored a 24-yard landing the next week in a win over the New Orleans Saints with Andrews out. Then, in Week 18 with Andrews resting and Jackson injured, Likely drew 13 targets from Tyler Huntley and recorded his solely 100-yard sport.
This season, although, Likely hasn’t produced when Andrews has missed time. In Week 1, Likely caught only one cross for 4 yards, and he went catchless Thursday after Andrews was injured by Logan Wilson’s hip-drop deal with on the Ravens’ opening drive.
Jackson mentioned Andrews supplied a trusted goal when a play grew to become “off script,” because the tight finish knew the place to be for his quarterback to get him the ball. But the 26-year-old sign caller expects Likely to “step up” and attain his potential given the elevated alternative.
“He’s shown glimpses of it,” Jackson mentioned. “He’s always somewhere open as I’m watching film, so I feel like he’ll step up and do the right thing.”
Likely expressed confidence in his capacity to fill in for Andrews, however he famous the 2 play totally different types of the place. Despite that, he believes he can develop his “chemistry” with Jackson.
“I’m not going to lie, me and Mark do things different in our own ways,” Likely mentioned. “That’s what makes us human, but just still trying to incorporate and blend with the offense.”
Likely, after all, isn’t the one tight finish left on the Ravens’ roster. Charlie Kolar, a 2022 fourth-round select of Iowa State chosen 11 spots earlier than Baltimore took Likely out of Coastal Carolina, missed most of final season with a hernia and has caught only one cross this yr — a 13-yard seize Thursday. And on the apply squad are veteran Eric Tomlinson and undrafted rookie Travis Vokolek, who Harbaugh mentioned is performing properly in apply however continues to be “a work in progress.”
It’s additionally doable — maybe possible — that Andrews’ manufacturing is crammed much less by Likely and extra by the Ravens’ improved extensive receiving corps. And the 2 video games with out Andrews this season would possibly serve for instance.
In Week 1, rookie Zay Flowers noticed 10 targets and grabbed a career-high 9 receptions in his first NFL sport. Last week, every of the Ravens’ wideouts stepped up, together with Rashod Bateman scoring his first landing of the season and Odell Beckham Jr. recording his first 100-yard sport with Baltimore.
“I do believe, more than we have been in recent memory, we’re probably more prepared to deal with something like this than we have been,” Harbaugh mentioned. “We have a lot of guys that can step up and make plays. … I feel really good about the guys that are going to all together fill in for Mark Andrews.”
While not having Andrews will hinder the offense, Bateman believes within the collective to fill in and maintain the offense transferring.
“I feel this world sort of will get caught up on this extensive receiver [No. 1] 1 sort of factor, however for the Baltimore Ravens this yr, I feel that we’ve proved that anyone can have an enormous sport, whether or not it’s Mark, OBJ, Zay, myself or anyone.
“We play as a unit. We play unselfish, and I think that’s why we’ve had success so far.”
Baltimore Sun reporter Brian Wacker contributed to this report.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com