Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh does not play his starters in preseason games, and he often doesn’t play the second-stringers either. While Mark Andrews is the starting tight end, backup man Isaiah Likely also sees a lot of regular playing time.
But that is not the case in the preseason, as Likely did not feature in the first two exhibition games, and he’ll be on the sidelines again come Saturday when the Ravens face the Green Bay Packers.
Therefore, the action he saw in the joint practice today against the Packers was extra special for him.
“It was a great opportunity, especially when a lot of guys aren’t playing in the preseason,” Likely told the media in Green Bay.
“So going against another defense, seeing how the league is shaping their defense around, especially going against an NFC opponent, it definitely was great work today.”
Thursday marked the only real chance for Likely to truly get the full competitive juices flowing before the real season begins Sept. 5 in Kansas City.
Likely told the media what that’s all about:
“Really just taking every (practice) rep you have as a game rep.”
“No matter who his front of you, whether it’s Green Bay, or even when it’s the Ravens, playing our defense.”
likely is going to be a massive part of the Ravens’ offense this season. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken will break out many “heavy” packages, employing plenty of double-tight formations.