The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 34-20 on Thursday Night Football to improve to 8-3. What should have been a joyous occasion was overshadowed by an injury to tight end Mark Andrews on the game’s opening drive.
After the game, Head Coach John Harbaugh described Andrews’ injury as “very serious.”
Quarterback Lamar Jackson shared his thoughts on the season-ending injury to his top target.
“That’s very tough,” Jackson said. “That’s the guy who I entered the league with. We’ve been bread and butter, peanut butter and jelly, whatever you want to call it. That’s my boy. That’s like receiver one sometimes. For him to go out first quarter, and he’s been having a remarkable year. One touchdown away from a record I think. That’s tough. We gotta somehow do it without him. We got [Isaiah] Likely, we got Charlie [Kolar].”
Andrews has been Jackson’s most reliable target in the passing game since the two entered the league together in 2018, with the duo displaying a unique ability to find each other off-script when passing plays break down.
The Ravens will need their pair of second-year tight ends to step up now to help fill the massive void in the passing game left by the three-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro. Likely, in particular, will be expected to become more involved in the offense after a lackluster follow-up to his promising rookie season in which he finished with 36 catches for 373 yards and three touchdowns.
Andrews will finish the 2023 season with 45 receptions for 544 yards and six touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Likely and Kolar have combined for 102 receiving yards on ten catches through the first 11 weeks of the season.
