Mark Andrews Injury Update: Will He Play Week 1?
Mark Andrews’ status for Week 1 is honestly a little up in the air, but there’s cautious optimism he’ll suit up — though nobody’s popping the champagne just yet. One thing about Andrews: he’s built a reputation for playing through nagging stuff, so hearing he’s questionable almost feels like his default setting at this point. When news about his minor quad injury came out early in training camp, the whole fantasy football group chat erupted. You could almost hear that collective groan from people drafting him in the second round. But after sitting out a lot of pre-season practices, Andrews finally started getting back into individual drills, albeit a bit gingerly.
Coach Harbaugh provides injury updates
What’s tricky: The Ravens medical staff is acting like tight-lipped diplomats, giving us only the safe, “We’re hopeful, but monitoring Mark day-to-day” sort of lines. Some beat writers, who’ve reliably spilled locker room tea for years, keep noting that there’s genuine caution — nobody wants to push him and risk having him re-injured before the real games start. If you’ve ever stayed past 11 pm refreshing Twitter for another injury update, you know how weirdly personal these things can get.
Mark Andrews Status: Latest Scoop
Right now, Mark Andrews is officially "questionable," but signs suggest that barring a major setback, the Ravens expect him ready for the opener against Houston. Reports from practice on Monday said he was back out running routes, not quite full speed but not limping either. That’s a good thing, especially for Ravens fans who are still traumatized by last season’s revolving door of injured pass-catchers. I remember a buddy sending me a meme after the Bateman injury, something about the Ravens “practicing with cardboard cutouts” at wide receiver — and honestly, it felt accurate for a minute.
Here’s how Andrews’ recovery timeline has looked:
- Initial quad injury revealed: Early August
- Sat out most of preseason, working with trainers on the side
- Returned to individual drills late August
- Participated in team activities, albeit slower pace
Opinions are split on how much this limited prep will affect him. Tight ends coach George Edwards said Andrews is “mentally locked in,” even if he’s “working back to full fitness” physically. That sounds like coachspeak, but for a vet like Andrews, it actually matters. Anyone who’s watched him and Lamar sync up on busted plays knows routine and chemistry beat raw speed most days.
Emotional Rollercoaster: Fantasy Owners & Fans
Let’s be honest — if you’ve drafted Mark Andrews in fantasy (guilty), this preseason has been a wild ride. First, you’re riding high, thinking he’s the best non-Kelce tight end alive. Then you’re spiraling, wondering if your sleeper tight end, some rookie from Detroit, might actually need to start Week 1. This is peak fantasy anxiety. Ravens fans, meanwhile, just want their security blanket back; Andrews has saved more broken drives than most bail bondsmen in Baltimore, and missing the opener would sting.
Anecdote time: Out of sheer irrational loyalty, I once started Andrews in a pivotal Week 1 matchup while he was recovering from a shoulder sprain. Result? 6 catches, a touchdown, and endless gloating rights over my cousin’s team — proof that betting on Mark can pay off, even when the odds look rough.
Light Digression: NFL Injuries and Preseason Smokescreens
Let’s wander for a second. NFL injury reports are basically half-truths, designed to keep fans guessing and opponents off-balance. “Game-time decision” is code for “we’ll see how he feels after he tries to jog in the hallway.” Andrews is obviously a pro at managing pain and quietly grinding away, but the Ravens also have a new OC who might mix things up week-to-week, especially after all those injuries last year. There’s a weird paradox here:
The more cautiously teams treat their stars in preseason, the more drama fans invent online about whether Player X will play. Someone on Reddit said the Ravens should just wrap Andrews in bubble wrap until Week 1. I kind of agreed.
