Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is back.
Nearly two months after undergoing what was thought to be season-ending ankle surgery, the three-time Pro Bowl selection and 2021 All-Pro was designated to return and hit the practice field Friday in Owings Mills. Andrews, 28, has been out since suffering the injury during Baltimore’s 34-20 victory over the Bengals on Nov. 16 on a controversial hip-drop tackle by Cincinnati linebacker Logan Wilson.
After that game, coach John Harbaugh said that the injury was “very serious” and would likely end Andrews’ season, adding that it was a “form of a high ankle” injury but “more than just a sprain.”
But in recent weeks, Harbaugh has been more optimistic about the possibility of Andrews returning, saying he wouldn’t rule it out for the playoffs.
“I think we’re on the same timetable that we were on,” Harbaugh said Friday when asked about his possible return. “We’re in that range, but today was the first day. He did individual [drills], that was it. So, we kind of ran it from there, and we’ll get into next week and have a better idea.”
Andrews caught passes during special teams drills, worked with the other tight ends during positional drills and participated in individual work. The Ravens have 21 days to add him to the active roster or he would revert to injured reserve.
The potential return of Andrews for the divisional round, which begins for the Ravens (13-4) on either Jan. 20 or 21 after they earned a first-round bye, would be significant. At the time of the injury, his 61 targets, 45 receptions and 544 yards ranked second on the team behind only wideout Zay Flowers, while his six touchdown catches were more than the rest of the Ravens combined (five).
Andrews, who has long been a security blanket for Ravens quarterback and presumptive NFL Most Valuable Player Award winner Lamar Jackson, led the team in catches and receiving yards in each of the previous four seasons after being drafted alongside Jackson in 2018.
“Everybody is excited for Mark,” Harbaugh said. “The guys [see] Mark in the training room every day; he’s in the weight room, he’s in the meetings. Everybody knows, and everybody kind of knew he was coming out and practicing, so they’re happy for Mark. You always want to see one of the brothers back out there doing their thing.”
Added fullback Patrick Ricard: “He is looking really good, and he’s the guy that’s a big leader on this team, a great teammate, great brother. So for us to see him out there, it’s definitely boosted morale of like, ‘OK, we see you, Mark. Let’s get this thing going so we can have you back.’”
In Andrews’ absence, second-year tight end Isaiah Likely has blossomed, with 17 catches for 282 yards and five touchdowns, tied for most among tight ends over that span. In all, he has 30 catches for 411 yards and five touchdowns this season.
“It’s definitely a blessing just watching him move around again,” Likely told The Baltimore Sun. “He was definitely moving well. He looked good in my eyes.
“[Having him back] that just opens up a whole other book in our offense, having an All-Pro guy like Mark out there back in our offense and the level we’re playing at now, with adding him brings us to a whole other level.”
It would also come at a good time with Flowers dealing with a calf injury. He hasn’t practiced the past two weeks, though he indicated he could be back next week ahead of the Ravens’ divisional round game at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Ravens will find out who they’ll play after the AFC wild-card round wraps up Sunday afternoon.
Others who were also not practicing Friday included wide receiver Tylan Wallace, left tackle Ronnie Stanley, outside linebacker Odafe Oweh (ankle), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf), outside linebacker Malik Harrison (groin) and linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips (shoulder). Humphrey and Harrison were running on other field, however. An injury report will be released next week.