Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff Writer January 18, 2024, 3:11 pm ET
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- Jamison Hensley is a reporter who covers the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011 and covered the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association's Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018 and authored a book titled “Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore.” Ravens. From 2000 to 2011, he was the Ravens' beat writer for the Baltimore Sun.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said it is still unclear whether tight end Mark Andrews will play in Saturday's divisional round playoff game against the Houston Texans.
Andrews practiced this week for the first time since injuring his left ankle on Nov. 16. He managed a jump grip in practice on Tuesday and was a full participant on Wednesday.
“Mark is still up in the air,” Harbaugh said after practice Thursday.
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Andrews has been Lamar Jackson's favorite target since both were selected by Baltimore in the 2018 draft. Over the past five seasons, Andrews has been one of the league's most productive tight ends, ranking in the top three with 347 receptions (second among tight ends), 4,305 yards receiving (third) and 37 touchdown catches (second).
The Ravens initially thought Andrews had suffered a season-ending injury, but then gave him “an outside chance” to return to the playoffs. To speed his recovery, Andrews brought a hyperbaric oxygen chamber into his home.
Asked what the deciding factor was in whether he will play on Saturday, Andrews said: “That’s how I feel at the end of the day. “I just know how good this team is, how good our players are, how good our tight ends are.” If I feel like I'm helping the team, I'll go. When I feel like I'm close but not there, [I’ll] Let these guys go and hopefully get it [there] next weekend.”
The Ravens have filled Andrews' void in the passing game. In six games without Andrews, backup tight end Isaiah Likely caught 21 passes for 322 yards and five touchdowns.
Although it's possible Andrews returns on Saturday, the Ravens will likely be without cornerback Marlon Humphrey. He didn't practice all week because of a calf injury.
“It’s a little tricky right now,” Harbaugh said of Humphrey. “I don't know if he'll make it. He’s probably the person I’m least optimistic about.”
Ronald Darby, who has 95 career starts in the NFL, is expected to replace Humphrey.