Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ravens All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews left the game in the second quarter with a shoulder injury and was unable to return.
Without their top option available, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore coaching staff turned to a rookie to pick up the slack, and Isaiah Likely delivered.
Likely made play after crucial play for the Ravens, including a huge catch on a 3rd-and-5, and an 11-yard touchdown reception to give the Ravens the lead in the third quarter. The fourth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina ended up with six catches for 77 yards and the score, and even recovered the onside kick that sealed the victory in the final moments.
Will someone step up for the @Ravens? Likely! @DaGorilla4#BALvsTB on Prime Video
Also available on NFL+ https://t.co/BDpDnHalLz pic.twitter.com/ND7fGql3iB— NFL (@NFL) October 28, 2022
While it was obvious that Likely made a him impact as a pass-catcher Thursday night, equally impressive were his contributions in the running game as a downfield blocker. He was shown multiple times making huge blocks to spring Jackson, Kenyon Drake and Gus Edwards for big runs. Some had concerns about Likely’s size and blocking and size heading into the 2022 NFL draft, but it’s clear he’s willing and able to be effective in that area of his game.
If Mark Andrews misses an extended period of time, Likely will step into a bigger role, replacing one of the NFL’s best at the position. But if his performance Thursday night is any indication, the Ravens shouldn’t have much to worry about.
