Breaking: Mark Andrews already with Ravens in locker room after practice

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, a key player if the franchise wants to make a deep postseason run through the playoffs, was present in the locker room following Friday's practice, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.

It was Andrews' first appearance during media availability since undergoing ankle surgery around a month ago.

Andrews, who had the ankle surgery on Nov. 21, is still on injured reserve and rehabbing from the injury he suffered in the game against the Cincinnati Bengals in November.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has spoken loudly of late about the potential return of Andrews in time for the playoffs and before the season is over. Harbaugh has said "Mark is one of those guys that really and truly… You say a guy eats, sleeps and breathes football; that's Mark Andrews," teasing his eventual return down the road.

Before his injury (Nov. 16), Andrews was putting on the best offensive effort among all Ravens players having 45 catches for 544 yards and six touchdowns before going down injured. Since he was placed on IR, fellow tight end Isaiah Likely has racked up 14 catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns in three games.

Andrews has reportedly (per Clifton Brown of BaltimoreRavens.com) been involved in assisting Likely, offering guidance and giving him tips about the game to improve his skills.

In a recent interview on The Lounge podcast, Likely said, "I will tell you if Mark feels like he can play this year, he will give it everything he has because that means Mark can do everything that Mark does."

Andrews, per Zrebiec, has been rehabbing at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owing Mills for the last month since suffering his injury and undergoing surgery, but his presence in the locker room looks promising for a potential return in late January to help the team win their third Super Bowl next February.

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