After signing his new three-year contract extension, Mark Andrews reaffirmed that he wants to spend his entire career with the Ravens.
"One hundred percent," Andrews said. "This has become home for me, really, every aspect about it. I've loved getting to grow up here as a man and play for this city, this organization. There's no place else I'd rather play."
Andrews is the franchise's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches and remains a pivotal cog in the offense in his eighth season. At age 30, Andrews believes there's plenty left in the tank, and he wants to empty it with Baltimore.
He repeatedly expressed gratitude to the Ravens' front office and his teammates following Thursday's practice. Andrews had no desire to explore free agency after the season and contract negotiations came together quickly. He's now signed two extensions before reaching the open market.
"It happened in like the last two weeks, everything kind of finalized pretty fast," Andrews said. "Both parties really wanting to get a deal done, and it was awesome.
"I'd say I was very patient in this process. Putting my head down and going to work, fighting for this team this year. I couldn't be happier."
Andrews and Lamar Jackson joined the Ravens together in 2018, and the on-field chemistry between them blossomed almost immediately. They are hellbent on winning a Super Bowl together, which is why Andrews' focus remains riveted on beating the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
"Extremely hungry for this opportunity," Andrews said. "The beautiful thing about this week is, it's all in front of us. This is the first step toward making our dream happen."
Isaiah Likely 'Just Sees Joy' With Andrews Extension
It remains to see what Andrews' extension means for fellow pending free agent tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar, but Likely is putting that on the back burner.
Likely texted his congrats to Andrews after he was paid by the Ravens again.
"I love Mark. I'm gassed," Likely said. "I was the one to text him, telling him, 'Big bro, I love you. I'm proud of you. Keep going. We've got more work to do this year.'"
Likely and Charlie Kolar could hit the free-agent market this offseason, but Likely said he's not focused on that with five regular-season games left to play.
"I just watched my brother get paid, so I just see joy," Likely said. "I live in the moment, knowing we have everything in front of us this year.
"I love how the tight ends are getting paid now, what it is, seeing the best guys in the league get rewarded for it."
After suffering a foot injury early in training camp that sidelined him the first three games, Likely has 18 catches for 223 yards in nine games. He came within a foot of scoring his first touchdown of the year on Thanksgiving, but the ball was knocked out of his hand as he stretched for the goal line.
Otherwise, he had his best game as a receiver with five catches for 95 yards – both season highs. Likely said he started to feel more like himself.
Derrick Henry Is 'Not at All' Frustrated With Lack of Carries
Derrick Henry only had 10 carries in the Ravens' loss to the Bengals, but he's not sweating it several days later.
Asked if he was frustrated by his lack of involvement, Henry said, "Not at all."
"Everything happens for a reason. I'm just trying to focus on how I can be better," Henry said. "There's been games when I got opportunities and I felt like I didn't take advantage of them or wasn't the best at those opportunities. So, it goes hand in hand. We're all a team. We're all one."
Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken said the reason why Henry didn't have any carries in the second quarter of the Thanksgiving game was in part because one drive was given to Keaton Mitchell. The other drive featured Zay Flowers' long touchdown that was nullified by an offensive pass interference call.
"It wasn't that we didn't want Derrick to touch the ball – that's silly," Monken said. "Do I understand that you can't control the game if you can't run it? Of course I do. That's a big part of what you have to do. So again, we'll always be looking to run the ball moving forward."
The Bills ran for 249 yards against the Steelers last week, but Henry isn't putting too much stock into that carrying over into Sunday's game.
"I'm sure they gameplan for the Ravens different," he said.
Ravens Stressing Ball Security in Practice
There's more than enough reasons to focus on having better ball security Sunday against the Steelers.
The Ravens are coming off a game in which they had five turnovers and the Steelers are one of the best in the league at ripping the ball away from opponents.
Pittsburgh leads the league with 12 fumble recoveries. Last year, they were tied for the league lead with 16. This is what the Steelers do, and when they've beaten the Ravens, it's typically because they've gotten turnovers.
In their six wins this season, the Steelers are +15 in turnover differential (16-1). In their six losses, they are -6 in turnover differential (6-12).
"They do a great job of punching at the ball, getting around the football, and it's been a huge part of their success," Monken said. "When we don't turn it over, we usually put ourselves in a heck of a position to win. And it's obviously heightened after last weekend, in terms of turning the ball over. So, you're working on it diligently in your individual [drills] and with the scout team punching at the ball."
