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While tight ends were once little more than extra offensive linemen who caught the occasional pass, things are different in the modern NFL. Today, those big men are multi-threat athletes, capable of both adding a bit of extra physicality and making things happen in the open field.

Consider the Baltimore Ravens' Mark Andrews as proof of that reality. While he might not get the same attention as Lamar Jackson, the Oklahoma product is a key part of the club's offense. But therein lies the problem. Baltimore will be without their tight end for the foreseeable future after a painful Week 11 injury.

With that in mind, here's everything you need to know about Andrews' absence and the road ahead for Baltimore.

Is Mark Andrews Injured?

Sometimes, an injury can fly under the radar. Maybe the player in question trots off the field for a substitution and simply doesn't return. In Andrews' case, though, it was apparent that there was a problem.

Minutes into the Ravens' Week 11 Thursday night date with the Cincinnati Bengals, the tight end caught a pass and ran for the end zone. He was stopped short by linebacker Logan Wilson and, when the dust cleared, remained on the ground in obvious pain.

Andrews left the game with an ankle injury and didn't return to the action. He's expected to miss a decent chunk of time, but we'll explore that further shortly.

"That's very tough because that's my boy," Jackson said after the game. "That's like receiver one sometimes."

The Tackle in Question Is Controversial Too

While an injury is never fun, there's a bit of extra drama at play when it comes to Andrews. The tight end was taken down by what's become known as a "hip drop tackle," a currently legal move that's developing a reputation for causing lower body injuries.

There's been talk about possibly banning those tackles. The logic there is clear, and it's similar to rules about roughing the passer or delivering dangerous hits to the head. On a human level, athletes need to be protected. And, taking a more cynical view, the NFL is an entertainment product. It's simply bad business to have the game's biggest stars going down to preventable injuries.

"It was definitely a hip-drop tackle...and it is being discussed," Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh said, describing the play that knocked Andrews out of the game. "It's a tough tackle. Was it even necessary in that situation?"

Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor, however, came to his player's defense.

"It's kind of been brought to my attention, the narrative that's out there right now, which I think is completely reckless," Taylor said. "He plays the game the right way."

No matter which side you fall on, though, the debate isn't going to vanish overnight. And when the league's competition committee reconvenes, it's safe to assume that Andrews' injury will be a part of the discussions.

Will Andrews Return This Season?

This is, of course, the million-dollar question. The Ravens are sitting atop the AFC, and that sets the stage for a deep postseason run. Andrews' absence would make it that much harder to reach the top of the metaphorical mountain.

When the tight end went down, it seemed as if his season was over. Since then, the narrative has slightly changed.

On Monday, Harbaugh came forward with a more positive report.

"There might be an outside chance that he could get back at some point in time," he said. "We'll just have to see how that goes. I don't want to say that's definitive by any stretch, but there is some optimism."

The coach added that the injury "wasn't as bad as it could have been. It's a little cleaner than they initially thought, based on the MRI."

That said, it does seem as if Andrews will have a challenge looming. Both an Associated Press report, citing an anonymous source, and the NFL Network's Mike Garafolo said the tight end was going under the knife for ankle surgery. And given that we're nearing the start of December, there might not be enough time for a full recovery this season.

Newsweek has reached out to the Ravens via email for comment about Andrews' potential surgery.

Harbaugh, however, isn't giving up hope, at least not publicly.

"I can tell you this: There is no bigger competitor, nobody wants to be out there more, than Mark Andrews," he said. "This guy, he's all about it. He's all about everything, but he's all about game day."

How Bad Is This for the Ravens?

To be clear, losing a starting player is never a good thing. In the Ravens' case, though, Andrews is a particularly important piece of the puzzle.

Remember Jackson saying that his tight end was essentially the team's top receiver? Well, the numbers don't 100 percent back up that statement, but they do confirm just how important Andrews is.

Thus far in 2023, he has the second-most targets (61), receptions (45) and receiving yards (544). Zay Flowers leads the team in those categories with 72 targets, 53 receptions and 588 receiving yards. Andrews, however, has the edge in touchdown catches, pulling in a team-leading six.

He also dovetails nicely with Jackson from a stylistic perspective. As the quarterback uses legs to extend plays, Andrews is adept at running the scramble drill and finding an open spot among the defense.

"That was my No. 1 guy when I got off script. Me and him are going to have a connection somehow someway," Jackson said Tuesday. "Just Mark being him, doing things to put us in great situations. We'll miss that a lot."

That said, the Ravens could be uniquely positioned to cope with this loss. The team's capable ground game, whether it's Jackson or Gus Edwards carrying the ball, helps on two fronts. Not only does it keep the chains moving, but it also forces defenses to stay honest. That, in turn, can create more favorable matchups for Baltimore's remaining pass catchers.

Who Will Step Up in Andrews' Absence?

So now that we've established that Andrews is an important part of the Ravens' offense, it's fair to wonder who will step up in his absence.

In terms of like-for-like replacements, it's unlikely that the other tight ends on the roster can fill the void. Isaiah Likely showed some potential as a rookie (36 receptions for 373 yards), but he's been quiet this season (nine catches in 11 games). Will Andrews' absence give him a larger role? Of course, but it doesn't seem as if he's poised to explode. Charlie Kolar, the other tight end on the depth chart, is even less of a threat in the passing game.

Elsewhere in the receiving game, the trio of Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor will probably see more targets. If the lack of a go-to tight end means more wide-receiver-centric formations, someone will find themselves in single coverage. Again, the Ravens' running game makes it tough for defenses to double-team multiple deep threats.

And, on the subject of the running game, it's also possible that Baltimore will lean even harder on that strength. There's no better way, after all, to control the game than keeping hold of the ball and piling up first downs.

Ultimately, though, the biggest burden will fall on Jackson. As the club's quarterback, he's largely responsible for keeping everything clicking on offense. With his top target sidelined, the former MVP will need to take control of the situation. Can he strike the right balance between running and passing? And when he decides to throw, can he make the right read without his preferred security blanket?

The answers to those questions, combined with Andrews' potential recovery, will determine the fate of Baltimore's season. At this point, though, we'll just have to wait and see how things unfold.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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