The Baltimore Ravens are hopeful that tight end Isaiah Likely will return earlier than expected following an injury sustained in early training camp. Head coach John Harbaugh described Likely’s injury as a setback that will require a few weeks to heal but stopped short of calling it a serious long-term issue. Harbaugh emphasized optimism about an early return to the field, stating,

“We have a shot to get him back there right away, early. We’ll see. That’s the good news. It was early in camp, and it’s not one of those major type of deals, but it’s something. It’s multiple weeks.”

Ravens Rely on Depth and Unselfish Play in Tight End Group

With Likely’s availability uncertain, the Ravens are counting on the depth of their tight end unit and a team-first approach. Veteran Mark Andrews stressed the importance of trust and cooperation among the tight ends to maintain offensive momentum. Andrews remarked,

“At the end of the day, it has to be an unselfish group. That’s not to say that guys aren’t going to want the rock and to have their yards, have their carries or have their catches, and I think that’s a great thing. I think Coach ‘Monk’ talks about that a lot. And for us, it’s being unselfish, trusting the process and trusting No. 8. He makes incredible reads, incredible decisions, and it leads us to victories. When we do that, good things will happen. It’s about being there for him.”

Harbaugh also highlighted rookie tight end Charlie Kolar as a player ready to seize any opportunity that arises during Likely’s recovery period. “Big opportunity for Charlie,” Harbaugh said.

“That’s what happens, and that’s the way football goes. Guys get their opportunities in various ways, and they need to work to be ready, and we have all the confidence in the world in Charlie.”

Keaton Mitchell Shows Encouraging Progress as He Returns from ACL Injury

Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell displayed promising signs in the preseason after returning from a torn ACL. Mitchell appeared confident and physically ready, reflecting on his rehabilitation progress after offseason workouts and training camp. He told reporters,

“I feel good just coming back from strength and conditioning, OTAs, camp. Feel a lot better, a lot more confident. So just being more confident in myself and trusting my knee — that it’s stronger, and it can do what I need it to do.”

Harbaugh praised Mitchell’s performance in the preseason game, saying,

“Mitchell made a bunch of plays for us and got after it.”

Joe Burrow Acknowledges Room for Improvement After Bengals’ Preseason Debut

Meanwhile, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow reflected on his first preseason performance against the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite a solid showing from the starting offense, Burrow stressed the team’s need for greater precision and fewer mistakes before the regular season begins. He pointed out,

“Too many procedural penalties, too many errors. Things like that are going to happen, but I think it just wasn’t clean enough across the board.”

On his individual play, Burrow described it as average but expressed optimism for progress:

“But overall, I’m happy with where I’m at. Next week I’d like to be a little better.”

Implications for Team Performance and Upcoming Season

The Isaiah Likely injury update brings cautious optimism to the Ravens organization, signaling that the team expects to maintain strength at the tight end position without a prolonged absence. With Mark Andrews leading the unit and Charlie Kolar prepared to step up, Baltimore’s offense aims to stay competitive. Keaton Mitchell’s advancement from injury adds valuable depth to the running back group, while Joe Burrow’s drive to refine his game highlights Cincinnati’s focus on improvement. As the preseason continues, these developments will shape how both teams prepare for the intense challenges of the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/”>NFL season ahead.