Andrews had already caught a 14-yard pass on the Ravens’ first play from scrimmage and had a 9-yard gain on the play he was injured on. He has once again been a leading offensive weapon with 43 catches for 521 yards and a team-high six receiving touchdowns entering the game.
“We’ve been bread and butter, peanut butter and jelly – whatever you want to call it,” Jackson said. “It’s very tough, because that’s my boy. That’s receiver [No.] 1 sometimes.
“I was hoping he was going to get up. I know how he [does], but when he went down, he was just laying there with that confused look on his face. I was like, ‘That’s my boy.’ I don’t want to see that happen to anybody, not just him. That’s my boy.”
With Andrews sidelined, second-year tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar step into much bigger roles. Likely has nine catches for 89 yards so far this season but played well when Andrews was sidelined for chunks of last year. Kolar caught one pass for 13 yards against the Bengals after Andrews’ exit.
Moreso, the extra targets in the Ravens’ passing game will likely be spread among the top four wide receivers, Zay Flowers, Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor. Beckham topped 100 yards for the first time as a Raven and Bateman and Agholor scored touchdowns Thursday night.
But there’s no doubt that there is no replacing Andrews and all he means to the Ravens.
“He’s going to be missed as a leader,” Harbaugh said. “He’s a fiery, emotional guy. He’s an energy-bringer every single day, so we’re going to have to all make up for that, too.”