OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens activated Mark Andrews from injured reserve on Jan 26, meaning the Pro Bowl tight end is line to play in the AFC championship game on Sunday when the Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs at M&T Bank Stadium.
Andrews has been a full practice participant the past two weeks and was on the field again for the team’s Friday workout, held in unseasonably warm weather.
“I’m excited. This is what I love to do,” Andrews said of being activated. “I love to play football. I love the Ravens. I love this city. I am going to give ’em everything I got.”
The AFC title game is the Ravens’ first at home in franchise history, and their first since their 2012 season, when they won at New England.
The game is considered one of the biggest sporting events in Baltimore history. Baltimore hasn’t hosted the AFC championship game since the 1970 season, when the Colts beat the Oakland Raiders to advance to the Super Bowl.
Andrews has missed the past seven games after suffering an ankle injury against Cincinnati in mid-November. He had surgery and missed the remainder of the regular season, but at the time, Harbaugh remained optimistic that Andrews could return at some point in the postseason.
Andrews’ return has been the source of speculation since he resumed practicing two weeks ago, but he was not activated for the Ravens’ divisional round game against Houston, won by the Ravens, 34-10.
Andrews, who has been quarterback Lamar Jackson’s favorite target since they came to Baltimore as rookies together in 2018, finished the season with 45 catches for 544 yards and a team-high six touchdown catches.
In his absence, second-year tight end Isaiah Likely has blossomed, with six touchdowns in the past six games, including one in the divisional round win against Houston. He totaled 21 catches for 322 yards and five touchdowns in the final six games after Andrews was injured, and then had two catches for 34 yards and a touchdown against Houston.
How Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken utilizes both Andrews and Likely could be one of the more interesting subplots of the game.
The Ravens are seeking their first trip to the Super Bowl since the 2012 season, and they know that to do that, they’ll have to get by the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has been in the AFC championship game in all six years he has been the starter.
“Those guys are the former Super Bowl champions,” Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said, “and to be a champion, you’ve got go to through a champion.”
At least the Ravens know that as they seek to accomplish that, they will have their three-time Pro Bowl tight end in uniform.
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