Tag: Mark Andrews

Mark Andrews practices for the first time since car accident

Mark Andrews suffered no major injuries in the incident, but he has been out of action for more than 16 days.

After a two-week layoff, tight end Mark Andrews returned to practice on Friday. The Baltimore Ravens star was back on the field for the first time since he was involved in a severe car accident back on August 14.

Although Andrews suffered no injuries in the incident and even partook in team meetings that day, he has described the accident as “extremely scary.”

He has been out of action for more than 16 days.

However, the Ravens’ starting tight end is now back to full strength. According to coach John Harbaugh a few days ago, Andrews is on track to be available for the season opener at Kansas City on Thursday.

According to Harbaugh, the team has no significant injuries heading into the season-opening rematch of last year’s AFC title game.

In 61 targets last season, Andrews had 45 receptions for 544 yards and six touchdowns. Across his six-season career, which has been spent all with Baltimore, Andrews has 381 receptions for 4,857 yards and 40 TDs.

WATCH: Eric DeCosta says Ravens will have the best TE duo in the NFL

Eric DeCosta says Baltimore Ravens have the best TE duo in the NFL

The Ravens have a dynamic offensive unit, and they’ll be even more explosive in 2024 thanks to the growth and ascension of third-year tight end Isaiah Likely.

In the eight games after he stepped in for the injured Andrews, Likely caught 25 passes for 372 yards and six touchdowns. On Thursday, during his sit-down with the media, GM Eric DeCosta had no problem proclaiming his duo of tight ends as the best in the NFL.

Fresh off his injury and looking to reclaim his status, Mark Andrews is a three-time Pro Bowler and widely considered one of the most reliable tight ends in the NFL. His rapport with Lamar Jackson is well documented, and you could see Baltimore play more than two tight end sets than ever before.

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How many former Sooners made ESPN’s Top 100 NFL Players list?

How many Oklahoma Sooners were made it on ESPN’s Top 100 players in the NFL?

The Oklahoma Sooners are one of the best programs in college football when it comes to putting players in the NFL. The best of the best at OU not only get to the next level but also shine when they get to the pros.

With football season inching closer, ESPN Rank unveiled their list predicting top 100 players for the 2024 season. A total of six former Sooners made the list, spanning multiple positions.

72. Lane Johnson, T, Philadelphia Eagles

Lane Johnson spent four seasons at Oklahoma, starting on the offensive line in both 2011 and 2012. He was the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, spending his entire career in Philadelphia.

Signature stat: Johnson and his former teammate Jason Kelce are the only two offensive linemen over the past 10 seasons to both win a Super Bowl and have at least five Pro Bowl nominations.  – Tim McManus, ESPN

70. Creed Humphrey, C, Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs center [autotag]Creed Humphrey[/autotag] checks in two spots above Johnson at No. 70. Humphrey was a Sooner for four seasons, and was a three-year starter from 2018-2020. He was the 63rd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and has won two Super Bowls as a Chief. He signed a massive contract extension last week to stay in Kansas City.

There’s no reason to expect any kind of drop-off this season from Humphrey, who led all centers last season in pass block win rate at 98.8%… Signature stat: Humphrey did not allow a sack on Mahomes in the Chiefs’ first two playoff games in 2023 against the Dolphins and the Bills. – Adam Teicher, ESPN

64. Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

Next up at No. 64 is Baltimore Ravens tight end [autotag]Mark Andrews[/autotag]. He is another four-year Sooner who started for three seasons from 2015-2017. Andrews was the 86th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and quickly became one of the NFL’s best tight ends. Though he has battled through injuries, he’s one of the biggest matchup nightmares in the league when he’s healthy.

Since (Lamar) Jackson’s first full season as a starting QB in 2019, Andrews ranks fourth in the NFL with 31 red zone touchdowns. Signature stat: In the past five seasons, Andrews has 347 receptions and 37 touchdown catches. Both are the second most of any tight end after Travis Kelce.” — Jamison Hensley, ESPN

32. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

Jumping all the way to No. 32 on ESPN’s rankings, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback [autotag]Jalen Hurts[/autotag] is the next Oklahoma representative. Hurts spent just one season in Norman (2019) but was excellent in leading the Sooners to another conference title and a playoff berth. After being the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, he was chosen 53rd in the 2020 NFL Draft. Hurts has become a star in Philly, leading the Eagles to Super Bowl LVII after the 2022 season.

Given his abilities and the strong supporting cast around him, (Jalen) Hurts could return to his 2022 form, where he went 14-1 as the starter and finished second in MVP voting. Signature stat: Hurts had 15 rushing TDs last season, tied with Josh Allen (also last season) for most by a quarterback in a single season in NFL history. Hurts’ 28 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons lead all players. – Tim McManus, ESPN

14. Trent Williams, T, San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle [autotag]Trent Williams[/autotag] lands at No. 14 on the list. The fourth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft spent four years in Norman, becoming a starter during his true freshman season and never looking back. He was particularly impressive in 2008 and 2009, helping anchor the offensive line during his final two seasons as a Sooner.

At 36, Williams is closer to the end than the beginning, but he’s showing no signs of slowing down. Williams did miss two games with injury in 2023 and has yet to play a full season since he arrived in San Francisco in 2020. He remains dominant but could continue to cement his Hall of Fame status with a full season in which he once again ranks near the top of the league in pass block win rate. Signature stat: Williams’ 95.8% PBWR last season was the best among offensive tackles (ESPN Analytics/NFL Next Gen Stats). – Nick Wagoner, ESPN

11. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Finally, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver [autotag]CeeDee Lamb[/autotag] is the highest-ranked Sooner on the list. Lamb was a starter all three years he was at Oklahoma, and a member of three straight playoff teams in Norman. In his final season, he was named a first-team All-American, after catching 62 passes for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was chosen as the 17th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Lamb is coming off a year in which he led the NFL with 135 receptions, but how will a training camp holdout impact him, at least at the start of the season? Lamb’s strength is working all three receiver spots, making it difficult for defenses to get a read on where he will be — he can even line up in the backfield. Lamb has certainly proved worthy of the No. 88 worn by Drew Pearson, Michael Irvin and Dez Bryant. Signature stat: Lamb’s 395 receptions is the third most by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. – Todd Archer, ESPN

Lamb’s holdout is over after he agreed to a historic contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys. The deal is the second-highest non-quarterback in NFL history.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.

Ravens vs. Packers: Top photos from preseason finale at Lambeau Field

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field

It’s only the preseason, but the Ravens will head towards the 53-man roster cutdown date with a sour taste after a 30-7 loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field on Saturday afternoon. Josh Johnson was 5-7 for 71 yards and one passing touchdown, while Michael Pratt led Green Bay in passing, going 8-12 for 80 yards and one touchdown. The Packers were dominant on the ground, amassing 193 rushing yards, as Ellis Merriweather led all ball carriers with 16 yards for 74 yards. The Packers held the ball for nearly ten minutes longer than the Ravens and out-gained Baltimore by 326 yards to 177 for John Harbaugh’s bunch. With Baltimore now turning its attention toward the Chiefs, here’s an instant analysis of the loss. ***

Fantasy football: Where to draft Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews

Analyzing Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews’ 2024 fantasy football ADP and where to target him in fantasy drafts.

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Ravens TE Mark Andrews is entering his 7th NFL season after being drafted in the 3rd round of the 2018 NFL draft out of Oklahoma. He had 107 receptions for 1,361 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2021 which resulted in his 1st All-pro selection. Since then, the numbers have dwindled each season because of injuries. Last season, he suffered a fibula fracture and ligament damage in an ankle in Week 11 but did return in the 2nd round of the NFL playoffs. Below, we look at Mark Andrews’ 2024 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.

Entering 2024, the injury concerns are real and the emergence of Ravens TE Isaiah Likely casts a large shadow over his fantasy outlook, but the chemistry between Andrews and QB Lamar Jackson is real. You have to assume if Andrews is healthy, he will finish as a top-3 fantasy tight end.

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Mark Andrews’ ADP: 48.80

(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)

Andrews’s 48.80 ADP in redraft leagues places him in the range of the 3rd to 6th round, depending on the size of the league. His ADP is significantly lower than Likely’s (161.35), though.

Among tight ends, Andrews’ ADP puts him 4th at the position, behind Kansas City’s Travis Kelce (29.86), Detroit’s Sam LaPorta (32.29) and Arizona’s  Trey McBride (47.58). Buffalo’s Dalton Kincaid (57.47) and Jacksonville’s Evan Engram (60.46) ranks as the 5th- and 6th-best tight ends.

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Mark Andrews’ 2023-24 stats

Games: 10

Receptions | targets: 45 | 61

Receiving yards: 544

Receiving touchdowns: 6

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Where should you draft Andrews?

Andrews remains one of the most reliable tight ends in fantasy football, yet he’s being overlooked in 2024 drafts, falling behind younger options like LaPorta and Kincaid. This makes Andrews a strong value pick and even a solid dynasty buy. Despite a limited role in his playoff return after a leg injury, he’s expected to be fully healthy this season.

The Ravens’ offense is still heavily reliant on Andrews, especially after shedding WR Odell Beckham Jr., who led the team in end-zone targets a year ago. Though Likely flashed potential late in 2023, he averaged just one catch per game when Andrews was healthy, reaffirming Andrews’ position as the primary option.

Even with WR Zay Flowers expected to play a big role, Andrews remains a top target. His fantasy points per game last season were just 0.05 behind Kansas City’s Kelce. With the Ravens adding stud RB Derrick Henry to boost the offense, Andrews is primed for another strong season.

Andrews is a reliable TE1 option with great value in 2024 drafts. He’s a proven performer in a productive offense, making him a safe and valuable pick.

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Ravens vs. Falcons: Top photos from Baltimore’s 13-12 win in preseason Week 2

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 13-12 win over the Atlanta Falcons in the preseason Week 2 matchup

Backup quarterback Josh Johnson was perfect on the afternoon, and rookie Emory Jones added a 56-yard touchdown throw to Dayton Wade in the second half to lift the Baltimore Ravens to a 13-12 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium.  The Ravens snapped a three-game preseason losing streak, while Atlanta had 343 yards of total offense but was 4-13 on third downs. Baltimore had another putrid day on the ground, rushing for 71 yards on 30 attempts.  With the team set to start preparation for the preseason finale, here are the top photos from the win over Atlanta. ***

WATCH: Qadir Ismail is making a legit case for a spot on Ravens 53-man roster

Rookie tight end Qadir Ismail is making a legit case for a spot on Ravens 53-man roster

Qadir Ismail began this spring as a fantastic story. He is a former quarterback who switched to wide receiver and the son of a former Ravens starter who won a Super Bowl with the franchise. Ismail signed as a rookie free agent after a minicamp tryout, and he’s blossoming after switching positions again, this time to the tight end spot.

Ismail will find it challenging to earn a roster spot, but he’s made a legitimate case and continues to improve.

Ismail was initially invited to try out at rookie minicamp and was signed to the 90-man roster at the start of Organized Team Activities.

A converted quarterback who transferred from Villanova to Samford University, he totaled 16 catches for 156 yards over two seasons as a wide receiver.

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Ravens news: OC Todd Monken wants ‘an offense that’s a nightmare to defend’

Todd Monken wants ‘an offense that’s a nightmare to defend’

Year 1 of Todd Monken’s tenure as the Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator was a resounding success. His unit finished sixth in total yards, first in rushing yards, and fourth in points, while quarterback Lamar Jackson went on to win his second MVP award. With a full season under his belt now, Monken will look to build upon the sturdy foundation set last year.

After evaluating last year, Monken was asked what kind of identity he wanted his offense to have.

“Certainly you want to have an offense that’s a nightmare to defend,” Monken said. “I think that’s what we’re all trying to accomplish – [have] an offense that you’re capable of winning in a variety of ways. If you need to run it to win, you can run it to win. If you need to throw it to win, you can throw it to win. That’s all we’re fighting for – to be elite in all those areas. And then the last part of it is, are you leading situational football? Short yardage, red zone, are you not turning it over, you’re explosive [and] formatted. All those things that really dictate a game.”

The Ravens’ offense underwent some change this offseason, particularly on the offensive line. Both starting guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson departed in free agency and right tackle Morgan Moses was traded to the New York Jets. Veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (second on the team in receiving yards) also left in free agency.

Baltimore signed running back Derrick Henry to a two-year, $16 million contract, giving Monken a true workhorse in the backfield next to Jackson. Henry and Jackson could take the league’s best-rushing attack to an even higher level, further opening up the passing game.

The passing attack should once again heavily feature tight ends, such as Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, as well as wide receiver Zay Flowers in his second season. Fourth-year wide receiver Rashod Bateman will be relied upon more this season after back-to-back disappointing and injury-riddled seasons for the 2021 first-round pick.

Ravens OC Todd Monken must get Zay Flowers more 1-on-1 opportunities

Baltimore Ravens WR Zay Flowers produced 387 YAC on just 77 receptions last season.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has a dynamic skill set that must be adequately utilized in 2024. Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken should strategize ways to scheme Flowers into more 1-on-1 opportunities at the intermediate and third levels in the passing game.

Ultimately, Monken must force opponents out of Dime and Nickel personnel to give Flowers more one-on-one opportunities. Monken can do this by deploying 22 personnel, three tight ends, and one wide receiver sets. 

Flowers is best when he has space to operate on the outside. Yet, when Monken deploys three—and four-receiver sets, the field becomes cluttered, and defenses can sit in zone coverage.

Impressively, Flowers produced 387 YAC on just 77 receptions last season within an offense with the second-fewest pass attempts in the NFL. 

Monken should focus on establishing the run and then deferring to the pass on second and third downs when the Ravens offense has shorter lines to gain. Creating explosive passing plays with Flowers can be the astronomical ingredient to perfect the Ravens’ offensive attack in 2024.

Ravens offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris to miss an extended amount of time

Baltimore Ravens offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris to miss an extended amount of time with an acute illness

The Ravens are having a difficult Wednesday as an organization. Hours after announcing that Mark Andrews was involved in a car accident, the team announced that offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris would miss an extended amount of time with an undisclosed illness.

D’Alessandris was hospitalized over the weekend and diagnosed.

A 45-year coaching veteran, D’Alessandris enters his eighth season as Baltimore’s offensive line coach.

The Ravens have hired George Warhop as interim coach, with 40 years of coaching experience, including 27 years in the NFL.

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