The Baltimore Ravens will get right into it in the 2025 campaign, as they will kick off the season with a highly anticipated clash against the Buffalo Bills. While the Ravens are expected to have a good shot at taking down the Bills, it does not appear they will be at full health on the offensive side of the ball for this one.
With kickoff quickly approaching, the injury status of tight end Isaiah Likely remains up in the air, with reports saying he isn’t expected to play when these two teams square off on Sunday Night Football. When Likely trending towards being stuck on the sidelines for this one, offensive coordinator Todd Monken opted to give his overlooked backup at the position a shoutout.
Todd Monken, Ravens Set to Lean on Charlie Kolar with Isaiah Likely Out
Likely has emerged as a key secondary playmaker in the Ravens offense, even though he sits behind Mark Andrews on the team’s depth chart. A former fourth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina, Likely caught 42 passes for 477 yards and six touchdowns last season, with all of those figures being career highs.
While Andrews is still leading the way at tight end, Likely has become a key piece of Baltimore’s offense. That has made his recent absence particularly noteworthy, as Likely was forced to miss the majority of the summer after suffering a broken foot in his bone that he has spent the past couple of weeks recovering from.
A Week 1 return was always going to be difficult for Likely, and all signs are pointing to him being inactive for this huge clash against the Bills. However, that doesn’t mean the Ravens are toast, as Monken revealed that Kolar, the Ravens‘ third-string tight end, will fill Likely’s role if he is unable to take the field.
“Great offseason, really come along, and part of that is opportunity,” Monken said when speaking about Kolar. “He’s in his fourth year, and (he’s) improved every year … I’m excited to see him play on Sunday night.”
Charlie Kolar Tasked with Stepping Up Amid Isaiah Likely’s Absence
GettyRavens TE Charlie Kolar celebrates his first touchdown catch.
Kolar was selected just a few picks before Likely in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, but to this point, he hasn’t managed to establish himself in the same sort of role within the Ravens‘ offense. In 13 games last season, Kolar caught just nine passes for 131 yards and one touchdown, as he was used more as a blocking option rather than a pass-catcher.
While Likely hasn’t been officially ruled out yet, Kolar could be in line for a bigger workload right out of the gate against the Bills, and considering how much talent the AFC East behemoth has at its disposal, Baltimore is going to need Kolar to deliver. Likely’s injury status is worth keeping tabs on as kickoff draws closer, but it’s looking increasingly likely that Kolar will be working alongside Andrews as the Ravens‘ No. 2 tight end in their season-opener on Sunday night.
Ravens OC Sends Strong Message on TE Amid Isaiah Likely Uncertainty