Ravens Rumors: Mark Andrews Likely Out for Season with Fibula, Ankle Injuries

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has been diagnosed with a cracked fibula and an ankle ligament injury, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini added that Andrews will likely miss the remainder of the season.

Andrews suffered the injuries in a 34-20 win over Cincinnati on Thursday Night Football that also saw Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow suffer a season-ending torn ligament in his wrist.

On the opening drive of Thursday's game, Andrews was sent to the ground on a "hip drop" tackle by Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson.

At the NFL meetings in October, competition committee chairman Rich McKay described the move "as a tackle in which a defender encircles his opponent and then drops his weight down to bring him to the ground," according to Giana Han of the Baltimore Banner.

The "hip drop" tackle is a controversial move, as it often results in a defender swinging his weight in a way that can result in him falling on the other player's leg or ankle, resulting in injury.

Jeff Miller, the NFL's executive vice president of communications, public affairs and policy, said last month that the tackle increases the rate of injury by 25 percent, according to Han.

While the NFL has held discussions about outlawing the tackle, the NFLPA is against banning the move, saying in a statement in March:

"Any prohibition on the 'hip-drop tackle' technique is unfair to players and unrealistic to implement. It places defensive players in an impossible position by creating indecision in the mind of any tackling player, puts officials in an unreasonable situation that will result in inconsistent calls on the field, and confuses our fans."

Losing Andrews is a tough blow for the Ravens, who are first in the AFC North with an 8-3 record and have perhaps the best opportunity of any team in the AFC to dethrone the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs come playoff time.

In 10 games this season, Andrews caught 45 passes for 544 yards and six touchdowns.

Second-year tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar will be called upon to step up in Andrews' absence. The two have combined for 10 catches and 102 yards this season.

Much of the attention in the passing game will now shift to the wide receivers. Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor and Odell Beckham Jr. lead the unit.

The Ravens will be back in action on Nov. 26 against the Los Angeles Chargers.