The Baltimore Ravens reportedly won't have tight end Isaiah Likely for the Week 1 game against the Buffalo Bills.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Likely is not expected to play in the season-opener on Sunday night.
Rapoport adds that Likely, who had surgery for a fractured foot during the summer, is "healing as expected" and "should be ready early in the season."
Likely suffered the injury during practice on July 29 and was given an estimated recovery timeline of six weeks.
There was a hope he might be ready for Week 1, however that is clearly not going to happen. As of this writing, we're a shade over five weeks into Likely's recovery, so a return in Week 2 is possible, but the following week seems more realistic.
"We got a shot to get him back there right away early," head coach John Harbaugh said of Likely. "We'll see. And so that's the good news. It was early in camp and it's not one of those major type of deals, but it's something. It's multiple weeks."
The biggest beneficiary of Likely's absence will be fourth-year tight end Charlie Kolar, who should see more snaps as a result. Kolar will operate as the TE2, with Mark Andrews serving in his typical role.
"For sure, it's a big opportunity for Charlie," Harbaugh said. "We have all the confidence in the world in Charlie."
Drafted in the fourth round in 2022, Likely is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Coastal Carolina product has shown plenty of promise and could be Andrews' heir-apparent.
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