After a solid performance in the regular season, Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely has carried that momentum into training camp and has been one of the team’s most dominant players.
He has made numerous one-handed receptions and created matchup problems with defensive backs and linebackers.
Last year, after fellow tight end Mark Andrews suffered a serious left ankle injury against the Cincinnati Bengals, Likely became a primary target for quarterback Lamar Jackson and scored six touchdowns in the final seven games. Likely also caught two passes for 34 yards, including a leaping 15-yard grab in the end zone that helped the Ravens cruise to a 34-10 victory over the Houston Texans in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Likely’s confidence is riding high heading into the regular season opener against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on September 5th. He is pushing himself to have an even better performance this year.
“Obviously, you want to hold onto everything that you did [well], and obviously benefit from the cons that you have, but this is a new year,” Likely said after the joint practice with the Green Bay Packers on Thursday. “We’re onto bigger goals because obviously everything didn’t pan out the way we wanted to, so obviously, [I’m] keeping in mind that obviously what I did last year wasn’t enough.
“So, [I’m] keeping that in [mind] and understand that this is another year to get it done.”
This offseason, Likely trained with some of the NFL’s best players in Nashville at the so-called Tight End University hosted by Kansas City’s Travis Kelce, San Francisco’s George Kittle, and Greg Olsen, who spent 14 years in the NFL with the Bears. Likely’s attendance at the camp underscores his work ethic and commitment to being a better player.
Likely has not played in the preseason games, so he was appreciative of the joint practice with the Packers. It allowed him to see how he matched up with an opposing defense other than his own for the first time this offseason.
“I feel like it was a great opportunity, especially when a lot of guys aren’t playing in the preseason,” Likely said. “So, going against another defense, seeing how the league’s shaping their defenses around – especially going against an NFC opponent – it definitely was great work.
“I’d say [it’s] really just taking every rep that you have like a game rep, and I feel like no matter who’s in front of you – whether it’s Green Bay or even when we’re playing the Ravens against our defense – [we’re] just treating every rep like it’s a game rep, so when the game comes, it’s easy.”
