Ravens tight end Mark Andrews broke his fibula and sustained ligament damage in his left ankle during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on November 16. Less than nine weeks later, Andrews was a full participant in practice in Baltimore on Wednesday, keeping alive the possibility that the three-time Pro Bowl selection could play in Saturday's divisional round playoff game against the Houston Texans.
“I think that’s how I feel at the end of the day,” Andrews said in his first comments since his injury in Week 11. “Just knowing how good this team is, how good our players are, how good our tight ends are .” If I feel like I’m being helpful to the team, I’ll leave. If I feel like I’m close but not there yet, I’ll let these guys go and hopefully get there next weekend.”
When Andrews was first injured, Ravens coach John Harbaugh kept the door open for him to return this season but said Baltimore needed to make a good playoff run. Andrews, who underwent surgery on November 21, returned to practice on a limited basis last Friday. He was restricted again on Tuesday before being upgraded to a full participant on Wednesday.
Andrews said he did everything possible, including staying in a hyperbaric chamber he borrowed from his girlfriend's family home, to speed healing.
“These guys had a common plan for me,” Andrews said. “All I had to do was come here every day, work and keep getting better. It has gotten much better week by week. We have made great progress.”
Andrews, 28, was one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL when healthy. Before the injury, he had 45 catches for 544 yards and six touchdowns. He was first-team All-Pro two seasons ago after catching 107 passes for 1,361 yards.
Sophomore tight end Isaiah Likely thrived in Andrews' absence, catching 21 balls for 322 yards and five touchdowns in six games. The Ravens went 5-1 in Andrews' absence.
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(Photo: Jessica Rapfogel / USA Today)