Ravens TE Mark Andrews not too worried about slow statistical start: ‘My time will come’

Andrews suffered a serious foot and ankle injury in Week 11 last season and was sidelined until the Ravens’ loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. He was also involved in a car accident in August, which Andrews described as “a serious matter.”

But Andrews, who is not listed on any of the Ravens’ injury reports this season, made it clear he doesn’t have a physical problem.

“I feel great. I think you saw how I move in the film. I think I’m doing a lot of things better than I’ve ever done before,” Andrews said. “And yeah, you know, it’s different. We have a different team, but I still feel incredibly good and fast and strong.”

“And I’m the same player I always was. It’s just because I didn’t get any balls.”

Andrews was busier in the Ravens’ first two games, starting the season opener and playing more than 60% of the team’s offensive snaps in each. Earlier this week, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh explained Andrews’ low usage in Week 3 by saying the Ravens had deployed more “big personnel” in a ground-heavy attack that saw them run the ball 45 times and throw just 15 passes. Harbaugh also praised Andrews’ blocking when he was in there, such as with Lamar Jackson’ TD run in the first quarter.

As with Kelce, who only has eight catches for 69 yards for the Kansas City Chiefs, Andrews’ fantasy owners might not like that explanation. But that’s the least of Andrews’ worries.

“I mean, all that (fantasy speculation) is good and all, but they don’t know what’s going on in this building and how we operate and what I do,” Andrews said. “They don’t watch me every game. They don’t see what kind of work I do. And so all good things come with time.”

Andrews ranks fifth on the Ravens in scoring, behind fellow tight end Isaiah Likely, who became a major offensive threat after Andrews’ injury last season and will continue in that role in 2024. The Ravens have also relied more heavily on Derrick Henry in the last two games in which he allowed a total of 43 runs.

But in Andrews’ view, he can still be the receiving threat who averaged 69 catches, 861 receiving yards and seven touchdowns per season from 2019 to 2013 – even if he missed a dozen games during that five-year period.

“You know, of course I want the ball. I want to help this team win,” Andrews said. “But it’s just about knowing that the time will come and you can just keep going.”