Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is officially ready to return from injury with the team heading into the divisional round of the playoffs. What will their offensive plan be heading into their first playoff game?
"The Ravens will probably fall somewhere in the middle when it comes to figuring out a plan of action and deployment moving forward," Joshua Reed of SBNation writes. "They won’t want to put too much in Andrews and his surgically repaired ankle even if he has looked like his old self in practice. This is out of fear of re-injury and also because significantly reducing Likely’s role when he is full of confidence and breaking out isn’t a good move."
Andrews injured his ankle in the first quarter of a Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Following the injury, he missed the remainder of the regular season while rehabbing, but the team didn't rule out the possibility of his return for the playoffs.
While Andrews was missing time, second-year tight end Isaiah Likely took over starting duties and shined in the role. He caught 30 passes and set career-highs in receiving yards and touchdowns with 411 yards and five touchdowns.
"The most likely scenario, assuming Andrews returns in time for the divisional round or AFC championship, is Likely still being put in positions to maximize his explosive run after the catch ability." Reed writes. "Meanwhile, his veteran mentor will be eased back into action and used primarily on obvious passing downs to work the middle of the field and in the red zone."
The Ravens will be hosting the Houston Texans in the Divisional round on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET.
More must-reads: