Ravens could get key player back for playoffs

Some big injury news emerged for the Baltimore Ravens on Friday as they announced star tight end Mark Andrews has returned to practice and has been officially designated to return. That designation gives the Ravens 21 days to add him to the active roster or shut him down for the season.

This should be seen as a very encouraging sign for his potential return to the lineup. Andrews has been on injured reserve since November when he suffered a fractured fibula, but the Ravens left the door open for his possible return later in the year. 

Andrews has missed six games as of this week. The Ravens will not begin their playoff run until the divisional round when they host the lowest remaining playoff team in the AFC. That could be either Houston, Cleveland, Miami or Pittsburgh. 

Getting Andrews back would be a significant boost to an already powerful Ravens offense. He is one of the best pass-catching tight ends in football and has been a reliable target for quarterback Lamar Jackson. Before his injury, he caught 45 passes for 544 yards and six touchdowns. Despite missing the past six games he is still the second-leading receiver on the team, 10 catches ahead of third-place finishers Nelson Agholor and Odell Beckham Jr. (both with 35 receptions). Rookie Zay Flowers led the team with 77 receptions. Andrews' six receiving touchdowns also led the team. 

In his absence, the Ravens utilized backup tight end Isaiah Likely more often and he started to become a key figure in the offense. As good as Likely played, they would still rather have both him and Andrews in the lineup as they try to make a run at the Super Bowl. There is now a chance they could have that.