Isaiah Likely Gives Two-Word Response on When He'll Return to Action
During an episode of WJZ’s “Purple Playbook" at Jimmy's Famous Seafood Wednesday night, tight end Isaiah Likely was asked the question that's been on the minds of Ravens fans for weeks: When is he returning to action?
Likely leaned forward in his chair, smiled, and said, "Very soon." The crowd attending the taping for the show, which will air Saturday at 11:35 p.m., roared.
Likely suffered a broken foot early in training camp and underwent surgery. He returned to practice last Friday, going through an extensive workout with Tight Ends Coach George Godsey.
Since Likely wasn't placed on injured reserve, which would have forced him to miss a minimum of four games, he could play as early as this Monday night's home game against the Detroit Lions.
Likely, speaking publicly for the first time since suffering the injury, explained how the injury occurred.
"I had a one-on-one with [safety Sanoussi Kane], caught a ball, landed on my ankle a little wrong. Sanoussi, trying to make a great play on the ball, ended up stepping on my foot by accident," Likely said. "Grabbed my foot, felt like I couldn't put pressure on it. Went inside, got an MRI, saw that I had cracked my fifth metatarsal."
Likely said he's "been itching to get back out there," but understands that "the end game is to make sure I'm good down the road."
"Where I'm at right now is really being able to trust myself, being able to just be me," he said. "I know when I get out there, the fans, my players, my brothers, my coaches, all want to see me be me. Not being timid, being hesitant to go make those splash plays that I do."
Likely's return will give the Ravens yet another offensive playmaker. He is looking to build off a season in which he posted career-highs in receptions (42), yards (477), and touchdowns (six).
Off to Hot Start, Zay Flowers 'Could Become One of NFL's Most Dangerous Wide Receivers'
Even though Zay Flowers made the Pro Bowl last season – the first Ravens wide receiver in franchise history to do so – there has still been talk about Baltimore not having "a true No. 1 wide receiver."
Through two games, the stats and the film say otherwise.
The 2023 first-round pick is fifth in receiving yards (218), tied for seventh in receptions (14), third in yards after the catch (113), fourth in yards per touch (13.5), and tied for ninth in targets (20).
"Even more impressive is Flowers' level of competition," The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer wrote. "In Week 1, he caught both of his targets for 43 yards and a touchdown when matched up in coverage against Bills cornerback Christian Benford, one of the NFL's most underrated defensive backs, according to PFF. On Sunday, he caught all five of his targets for 47 yards against Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II, who a week earlier didn't allow a completion to Cincinnati Bengals star wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
"Flowers has been an especially hard cover with a running start. He leads the NFL in receiving yards on plays when he's been motioned before the snap (68), according to SIS, putting him well ahead of his 2024 pace, when he finished in the top 10 in yardage (285)."
Shaffer noted that there's still another level Flowers can reach.
"If Lamar Jackson can find him more regularly on deep shots, Flowers could become one of the NFL's most dangerous wide receivers," Shaffer wrote. "Jackson is just 1-for-4 on passes targeting Flowers at least 20 yards downfield this season, only one of which was deemed to be catchable, according to SIS. Flowers got decent separation on three vertical routes that led to targets Sunday, but Jackson overshot him on all three."
Charlie Kolar Is Playing a Key Role for the NFL's Highest-Scoring Offense
Tight end Charlie Kolar does not have a single catch or target despite playing 60% of the offensive snaps through two games. However, he is still making a significant impact on the NFL's highest-scoring offense.
One of the nation's top pass-catching tight ends during his collegiate career at Iowa State, the 2022 fourth-round pick has developed into an effective blocking tight end in the NFL.
"The transformation happened after he had an epiphany two years ago," The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec wrote. "He looked at the Ravens' tight end room and understood that Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely were ahead of him as receiving targets. He knew Baltimore had arguably the NFL's best fullback in Patrick Ricard. Smarting from a string of healthy scratches as a rookie, Kolar pondered where he'd fit and how he'd contribute.
"He concluded that what the Ravens didn't necessarily have was an in-line blocker with enough speed to make plays downfield in the passing game. Kolar devoted himself to getting bigger and stronger while also maintaining his speed and athleticism. He refined his footwork and blocking techniques. He bought into playing special teams and doing whatever the coaching staff asked."
Zrebiec noted that Kolar's pre-draft scouting report said he was "not very effective as a point-of-attack blocker" and "requires more toughness as a run blocker."
"I don't actually disagree," Kolar told Zrebiec. "I don't think I was a great point-of-attack blocker in college. But I'm definitely proud of how far I have come."
Kolar, who, like Andrews and Likely, is in the final year of his contract, has shown during his three seasons with the Ravens that he is more than capable of making plays on the occasions the ball comes his way.
"I'm still getting paid a ton of money. I don't see what I have to complain about," Kolar said. "Everybody wants more targets, but I feel very blessed for where I'm at. It's a delicate balance to be grateful, but also be hungry for more. I try and walk that line."
Quick Hits
Yesterday's Most Read: Ravens to Wear All-Black for Darkness Game on 'Monday Night Football'
- Outside linebacker Tavius Robinson was named to the "Madden 26" Team of the Week for his performance against the Browns.
