Ravens leave door open for possible Mark Andrews return after positive injury news

BALTIMORE — Ravens tight end Mark Andrews likely will miss the remainder of the season after suffering an ankle injury in Thursday night's 34-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, coach John Harbaugh said after the game.

“Unfortunately on the negative side, Mark Andrews has a very serious ankle injury," Harbaugh said. "It looks like a season-ending injury. So our prayers will be with Mark.

“Nobody cares more about the team and being there for the guys than Mark Andrews so this is gonna be hard for him, but we’re gonna be there for him all the way.”

An MRI revealed the Ravens star tight end suffered a cracked fibula and an ankle ligament injury, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

On Monday, however, there was more positive news.

"It wasn’t as bad as initially feared right after the game," Harbaugh said.

Is Mark Andrews out for the season?

Nothing is definitive yet, Harbaugh said.

"But it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been," Harbaugh added. "It’s cleaner than they thought, based on the MRI.

The Ravens will know more as Andrews starts his rehab under the supervision of Dr. James Andrews in Charlotte, North Carolina. There is an outside chance he could return this season, but Harbaugh didn't put a timetable on that.

"We’ll just have to see how that goes, though," Harbaugh said. "I don’t want to say that’s definitive by any stretch, but there is some optimism.”

Mark Andrews injury a big blow to Ravens

Andrews – a favorite target of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson – was injured after catching a pass on the Ravens' opening drive. He stayed on the ground for a few scary minutes after Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson landed on his leg while tackling him on the 4-yard line.

Players for both teams signaled for Baltimore trainers to immediately attend to him. Jackson took his own helmet off and tossed it to the turf. Andrews was able to gingerly walk off the field without assistance while the Baltimore fans gave him a rousing ovation. The Ravens said that Andrews was questionable to return, but he was ruled out shortly after.

The Prime Video broadcast reported Andrews was using crutches and was unable to put any weight on his leg.

Since being picked by the Ravens in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft, Andrews has been selected to three Pro Bowls and led the team in receiving yards in three seasons. He was second on the team in targets (59) and catches (43) entering Week 11 and was leading the team in touchdown receptions with six.

Jackson saw Andrews' leg fold under the weight of Wilson's tackle and knew it was a serious play. But he was hoping his fellow draftmate would shake it off like usual. Then he saw the confused, pained look on Andrews' face.

"I was like, ‘Damn, that’s my boy,’” Jackson said.

The quarterback described his relationship with Andrews using some sandwich metaphors: the pair are like bread and butter, peanut butter and jelly. He and Andrews have a connection that only comes through playing together for a long time.

"Receiver one sometimes," Jackson said of Andrews.

Mark Andrews' backup at tight end

Isaiah Likely is set to take over for Andrews as the leading tight end. A fourth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina in 2022, Likely entered Thursday with nine catches for 89 yards on the season. Prior to Thursday, he had participated in 27.2% of the team's offensive snaps.

For blocking purposes, fullback Patrick Ricard can be an asset in the Ravens' rushing attack. Charlie Kolar is the third tight end on the roster.

“It’s not just the next player at the position. It’s all of them," Harbaugh said. "To replace a player like Mark Andrews, it’s going to take everybody.”

The loss of Andrews will also be felt beyond the box score. He is an energy leader on the team, Harbaugh said, and there will be a void in his absence.

“He’s a fiery, emotional guy," the coach said.

Was Logan Wilson's tackle dirty?

Wilson, a 2020 third-round pick, was involved in three different plays that saw a Ravens player suffer an injury.

Later in the first quarter, Jackson came up limping after being dragged down by Wilson near the Ravens sideline. He spent time in the sideline medical tent but didn't miss a play. Then in the fourth, Wilson was the one who chased down Odell Beckham Jr. following Beckham's 51-yard catch; Beckham hit the ground hard and sat out the rest of the game with a shoulder injury — one he didn't deem too significant.

Harbaugh classified the tackle on Andrews, though, as a "hip-drop" tackle — when a defender's hip falls on a player's lower leg in a compromising position.

"It’s a tough tackle. Is it even necessary in that situation?" Harbaugh said. "The (Jackson) one on the sideline — there’s always plays that you send into the league."

For Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen, a defensive player himself, it's a murkier situation.

“I hate that Mark’s hurt. Prayers for him," Queen said. "At the end of the day, playing football, playing a tackle sport, I don’t think a hip-drop tackle is that bad of a thing.”

The Bengals declined to make Wilson available when approached by a USA TODAY reporter. On Friday, Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor defended his player, calling the "narrative" around the play "frustrating and a little bit maddening."

"He plays the game the right way. And so again I think it's people kinda gotten ahead of themselves, labeling him a certain way," Taylor told reporters. "And it's frustrating to see that because I know what the guy is about. And I know he's trying to play the game the right way. And it's unfortunate any time a player gets injured, but he's a guy that I'm very proud to coach and I'm proud to be a part of this team."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mark Andrews injury update: Ravens TE could still return this season