Four days after the worst game of his career, Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has finally broken his silence.
The three-time Pro Bowl tight end posted a statement on his verified Instagram account saying he was “absolutely gutted by what happened on Sunday,” which included a fourth-quarter fumble and his drop of what would have been the game-tying 2-point conversion with 1:33 remaining in the 27-25 loss to Buffalo. Andrews did not talk to reporters after Sunday’s loss or during Monday’s hour-long opener locker room period in Owings Mills.
“I’m devastated for my teammates, my coaches, and Ravens fans,” Andrews wrote. “I pour every ounce of my being into playing at the highest level possible because I love my team and the game of football like nothing else. That is why it’s taken me until now to collect my thoughts and address this publicly.
“Even though the shock and disappointment are unlike anything I’ve felt before, I refuse to let the situation define me. I promise that this adversity will only make me stronger and fuel us as we move forward.”
Despite a slow start to the 2024 season that included only six catches for 65 yards over the first four games, the 29-year-old Andrews caught a career-high 11 touchdowns and eclipsed 55 catches and 650 receiving yards for the fifth time in seven seasons.
Andrews will be entering the final season of a four-year, $56 million contract and has received much supporting from the organization in the aftermath of Sunday’s loss.
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“Mark Andrews is a great football player, and he’s also a very tough-minded individual,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “He takes it hard because he cares so much. I love Mark Andrews. Eric [DeCosta] loves Mark. All of our players love Mark. Mark is a huge part of our future, and we love him and are there for him.”
Van Noy, Stanley named Pro Bowl replacements
After nine Baltimore players were named to the Pro Bowl earlier this month, outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy and left tackle Ronnie Stanley were added to the AFC roster as injury replacements on Thursday.
Van Noy will replace Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt after registering a career-high 12 1/2 sacks in 2024. That standout season came after the 33-year-old had nine in his first year with the Ravens, which was also a personal best. This is the first Pro Bowl selection of Van Noy’s career.
A 2019 Pro Bowl selection, Stanley receives his second nod after playing every game in a season for the first time in his career. The timing is good for the 30-year-old, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Stanley is replacing Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
Wide receiver Zay Flowers will not take part in the Pro Bowl festivities as he continues to recover from the right knee injury that sidelined him for both of the Ravens’ playoff games. He will be replaced by Jacksonville wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. after the rookie finished third in the NFL in receiving yards (1,282).
Flowers was the first wide receiver to be named to the Pro Bowl in franchise history.
