One win away from reaching the Super Bowl, the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens could have Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews back in the lineup on Sunday when they host the Kansas City Chiefs.
Andrews has not played since suffering an ankle injury that cost him the remainder of the regular season on Nov. 16. The Ravens won six in a row without him before falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18.
Heading into Sunday’s AFC title game (3 p.m. ET, CBS), Andrews’ potential return would be a huge addition for the Ravens offense.
Here’s what we know about Andrews’ recovery and status for the playoff matchup:
Will Mark Andrews play vs. Chiefs?
In the words of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, ‘Hopefully.’
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
Jackson was optimistic about Andrews’ return when he spoke to the media Wednesday.
‘It would mean a lot. That’s my – like I said – bread and butter, big bro,’ Jackson said. ‘But with Mark and the type of guy he is, the type of caliber player he is, and what he brings to the table for us, it would definitely mean a lot for us.’
Jackson might have his ‘bread and butter’ available on Sunday, as Andrews was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.
Baltimore started the clock for Andrews’ comeback by designating him to return from injured reserve Jan. 12. Players have three weeks to be activated from that date.
What was Mark Andrews’ injury?
Andrews suffered a cracked fibula and ligament damage to his right ankle when Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson tackled him during a ‘Thursday Night Football’ matchup.
Wilson’s tackle came under fire as an example of the ‘hip-drop’ tackle that some have called upon the league to ban. Months later, Andrews didn’t seem to have an issue with the play.
Mark Andrews’ recovery includes hyperbaric chamber
One key to his recovery, Andrews said, was the use of a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. His girlfriend’s family had one, he said, and they moved it into his house to aid in his recovery.
‘I think that’s been big for me – help speed up that process,’ Andrews said.
Mark Andrews’ stats for 2023 season
Prior to his injury, the 2021 All-Pro caught 45 passes for 544 yards with six touchdowns.
Who is Mark Andrews’ backup?
With Andrews out, second-year pro Isaiah Likely has thrived in a starting role. Likely caught all five of his touchdowns in the regular season over the final six games. And he came up big in the Ravens’ playoff opener as well – catching two passes for 34 yards and a touchdown in Baltimore’s 34-10 rout against the Houston Texans.