The Baltimore Ravens emerged victorious against the Cincinnati Bengals in a Thursday Night Football clash, securing a 34-20 win overshadowed by a series of injuries. Joe Burrow, the Bengals’ quarterback, exited the game with a suspected sprained wrist, while Lamar Jackson, the Ravens’ quarterback, caused concern with a seeming ankle injury. However, the Ravens faced a more significant setback as star tight end Mark Andrews sustained an ankle injury that, as confirmed by Ravens’ head coach John Harbaugh, will rule him out for the remainder of the 2023 NFL season.
The injury occurred when Andrews, running with the ball, was awkwardly brought down by Bengals’ defender Logan Wilson, resulting in a gruesome landing on his ankle.
John Harbaugh says TE Mark Andrews (ankle) will be out for the season. pic.twitter.com/wYuE6BCyax
— NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2023
The loss of Andrews is a major blow to Baltimore, given his pivotal role as their top pass catcher and one of the premier tight ends in the league. Despite Jackson assuring reporters that his ankle issue is not a cause for concern, the absence of Andrews is expected to impact the Ravens significantly.
Mark Andrews concludes the 2023 NFL season with 544 receiving yards, 45 receptions, and six touchdowns. Since joining the league in 2018, he has consistently been one of the top tight ends, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards in the 2021 season. The hope now is for a swift recovery for Andrews, but the injury undoubtedly poses a setback for both him and the team.
This injury to Mark Andrews is why the league wants to eliminate the “hip-drop” tackle. Andrews walked off the field but it could have been much worse.#CINvsBAL pic.twitter.com/mdKpxCzO4f
— Mike McDaniel (@MikMcDaniel) November 17, 2023
Following the Thursday victory, the Ravens hold an 8-3 record and maintain their position as one of the leading teams in the AFC Conference. They currently lead the highly competitive AFC North. Looking ahead, Baltimore faces the challenge of a matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers in California next week, navigating the game without their reliable passing game asset in Andrews.