Baltimore Ravens TE Isaiah Likely 'Focusing on Being Where My Feet Are'

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely is adapting to life as TE1 in the absence of Mark Andrews and is not taking anything for granted.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely is doing his best to cover for the loss of All-Pro Mark Andrews who was lost for the season with an ankle injury. 

In the two games that Likely has been the No. 1 tight end for Lamar Jackson, he has hauled in nine catches for 123 yards (which includes a 54-yard touchdown grab vs. the Los Angeles Rams). It should come as no surprise that when Likely gets more opportunities, he takes them.

But what has been the catalyst for Likely taking his chance with both hands?

“Really just keeping a calm head I mean just understand that the Ravens trust me and I love the organization,” Likely said on The Lounge. “How Coach Harbs [Harbaugh], coach Monken, and coach G [tight ends coach George Godsey] helps me every day in the minor details and really just even if I have a question either asking Lamar [Jackson] or still keeping in contact with Mark [Andrews] asking how he would have run this route, how he would have blocked him, how he goes about watching film. 

"Then really just embracing the role of being where my feet are. I mean coming in every day to work you know ready with open arms to learn and understanding that I'm going to mess up a little bit I'm going to have you know a couple hiccups here and there but by game time I'm 100%.”

Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (80) has produced good performances in back-to-back games / Jessica Rapfogel-USA TODAY Sports

Likely has proven to be a more than reliable part of Todd Monken's offense and it does give us some food for thought about how the Ravens could utilize both when/if Andrews returns.

With Likely doing serious damage after the catch as his longest catches in the last two games have been 18 and 54 yards, he offers something different to Andrews who is considered a bruiser with the ball in his hand.

Baltimore currently has the No. 1 seed in the AFC and has been doing it without Andrews as Likely has stepped up in a big way.

With four games remaining in the regular season plus the playoffs, Likely is going to have a chance at consolidating his position in Monken's offense.

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And when/if Andrews return, Lamar Jackson could have one of the best tight end duos at his disposal in the NFL.

"Be where your feet are" seems like a good message to heed and for Likely, his feet are planted firmly on the ground.