The Baltimore Ravens were among teams hardest hit by injuries in 2021. Season-ending ailments to Lamar Jackson and many skill-position players led to a division-worst 8-9 record, including six straight losses to end the season.
Baltimore’s front office has made numerous roster adjustments since then, loading up on depth at skill positions to prepare for an injury. Former Ravens tight end Daniel Wilcox believes Baltimore will be able to get by without Mark Andrews’ services because of the depth the team has accumulated.
“I think the best thing that happened to the Baltimore Ravens was about three or four years ago when they had all the injuries,” Wilcox said on Glenn Clark Radio Nov. 20. “Lamar got hurt, all the receivers, the O-linemen, the [defensive backs] got hurt, and they realized that they didn’t have a team that was loaded on depth. So this team is based and centered around depth right now.”
In previous years, a major ankle injury to Mark Andrews — second on the team with 544 receiving yards and first on the team with six touchdown catches — could have been a huge blow to the team’s Super Bowl hopes. But this year, the injury has a chance to be merely a setback because of the depth on offense.
“The receiving corps is about as deep as it’s ever been. The running back room looks absolutely phenomenal,” said Wilcox, who had 576 receiving yards and eight touchdowns during his five-year tenure in Baltimore. “Keaton Mitchell coming on strong right now helps that room tremendously.”
With the 6-foot-5, 256-pound Andrews out, the Ravens will likely rely on the running game more. Baltimore leads the NFL with 158.6 rushing yards per game and 22 rushing touchdowns.
The passing attack ranks near the middle of the pack in yards per game and touchdowns. The Ravens will need tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar to step up in the absence of Andrews.
Likely recorded 40 yards on four catches and a season-high six targets in the Ravens’ 20-10 win against the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 26. Kolar failed to record a catch but played a season-high 27 percent of snaps against Los Angeles.
“I feel like we have plenty of depth right now,” Wilcox said.
One area where Andrews’ absence was felt in particular against the Chargers was third-down offense. The Ravens are converting 43 percent of their third downs this year, but against the Chargers, they converted just 31 percent of their tries.
Offensive coordinator Todd Monken will have to figure out how to make up for Andrews’ ability to run, catch and block from the tight end position. Wilcox believes Likely has the same skill set as Andrews in terms of catching the ball, but the team might need to rely on Kolar more for run blocking.
“I think Isaiah Likely is a huge threat in the passing game but not as much of a threat in the run game,” Wilcox said. “[Andrews] is a constant mismatch on routes, and then he could hold his own when it comes to blocking. Isaiah Likely is a little lighter … and may get tossed around a little more, but he’s just as good as Mark in the pass game. … I think Kolar may be a little bit better of a run blocker as well.”
Wilcox also mentioned fullback Patrick Ricard as a player who could step up in the absence of Andrews. Ricard is mainly used for blocking but has still recorded four catches for 48 yards this season.
While the loss of Andrews is a costly one for the team, the depth in all three phases of the team should keep the Ravens in Super Bowl contention. The Ravens are allowing the second-fewest yards (273.9) and points (15.6) per game in the league.
“I feel like we still have a solid team on offense, defense and special teams where we can cause some serious damage going late into the playoffs and Super Bowl,” Wilcox said.
For more from Wilcox, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox