Ravens tight end Mark Andrews won't play in playoff opener against Texans

Mark Andrews’ return to the Ravens’ lineup will have to wait a little longer.

Baltimore did not activate the tight end from injured reserve Friday, meaning he will be unavailable when the Ravens host the Houston Texans in Saturday’s divisional round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium.

Andrews, who suffered an ankle injury in Baltimore’s Nov. 16 game against the Cincinnati Bengals and later underwent surgery, returned to practice during the Ravens’ bye last week. He was a full participant in practice this week but was listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report, with coach John Harbaugh saying Thursday that Andrews’ status was “up in the air.”

Even though he won’t play Saturday, however, the Ravens have been encouraged by what they have seen from the 28-year-old since his return. He ran and cut well and at one point made a leaping catch on an out route during quarterback drills on Wednesday.

Andrews also said that if he was unable to give it a go against the Texans, he would hopefully be able to play in the AFC championship game the following week should the top-seeded Ravens advance.

“I’m starting to feel really good, being able to get after it, get in and out of routes [and] feeling pretty natural with all that stuff,” Andrews said.

Asked how difficult the past two months have been, Andrews said it’s been a “test.”

“It’s the first time I’ve ever been through anything like this,” he said. “It’s tough, but you get around this team and you get around the guys, everybody in this building has been extremely supportive. I can’t tell you how much that means to me, how much it matters, and it makes me want to come here, work every day, come back to this team and help this team win a Super Bowl. That’s what matters.”

With Andrews sidelined, the Ravens will continue to use tight end Isaiah Likely to fill the void. In six games without Andrews, he has led the Ravens with 322 yards and five touchdown catches.

In other moves, the Ravens activated wide receiver and kick returner Devin Duvernay and defensive back Ar’Darius Washington off injured reserve. They also elevated linebacker Josh Ross and wide receiver Dan Chisena from the practice squad, with both expected to see action on special teams Saturday. Baltimore also re-signed running back Melvin Gordon III to the practice squad after Dalvin Cook was signed to the active roster.