Ravens Tight End Isaiah Likely Ruled Out for Thursday Night Football Matchup Against Bengals

While Lamar Jackson has been removed from the injury report and will play Thursday night against the Cincinnati Bengals, one of his top targets, tight end Isaiah Likely, has been ruled out.

Likely, who hasn't practiced this week due to a hamstring injury, has 24 catches for 271 yards and three touchdowns – very similar stats to fellow tight end Mark Andrews. Andrews will likely see a larger snap share in Likely's absence.

It was Likely who rose above a pair of Bengals defenders to haul in Jackson's incredible "Rag Doll" touchdown pass in Week 5 in Cincinnati. He's also a key part of Baltimore's perimeter blocking.

Bengals Injury Report

The Bengals are holding out a sliver of hope for Tee Higgins by not outright ruling him out for Thursday, but the wideout is officially doubtful to play after not practicing at all this week. He continues to deal with a quad injury. Fellow wideout Charlie Jones also didn't practice and is doubtful. On a more positive note, Brown was limited both Tuesday and Wednesday, giving him a shot to play. B.J. Hill also practiced for the first time Wednesday and is questionable.

Other Notable Injuries

Baltimore has also ruled out defensive end Brent Urban for a second straight game due to a concussion. Urban hasn't practiced since suffering the injury on Oct. 27 in Cleveland.

With Urban out and nose tackle Michael Pierce on injured reserve, the Ravens could again elevate a defensive lineman or two from the practice squad. Chris Wormley and Josh Tupou were activated last Sunday against Denver.

Defensive tackle Travis Jones (ankle) was upgraded to a full participant on the practice estimation of Wednesday's late-afternoon walkthrough.

Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (knee) is doubtful to play after being limited in practice all week and running backs Keaton Mitchell (knee) and Rasheen Ali (ankle) are both questionable. Mitchell would still need to be activated to the 53-man roster.

How Will The Ravens Adjust?

The absence of Likely will be a significant loss for the Ravens. He has been a reliable target for Jackson and a key part of the team's offensive scheme. Andrews will be tasked with picking up the slack, and the Ravens will need to find a way to replace Likely's blocking ability. The Ravens have a number of other options at tight end, but they will need to find a way to fill the void left by Likely's absence.

Impact on the Bengals

The Bengals are hoping to get to .500 for the first time this season after starting the year 1-4. The Ravens are hoping to keep pace with the Steelers at the top of the division.

The Bengals will need to find a way to replace Higgins' production on offense. They have other offensive weapons, such as tight end Mike Gesicki and wide receiver Andrei Iosivas, but Higgins is a key player who provides balance opposite Ja'Marr Chase. His absence could allow Baltimore to devote more resources to stopping Chase.

The Bengals are hoping that Brown will be able to play against his former team, but his status is still up in the air. Hill's questionable status is also a concern, as he gave the Ravens trouble in the Week 5 game.

What's Next?

The Bengals and Ravens will face off on Thursday night in a game that has significant playoff implications. With both teams dealing with key injuries, this game could come down to which team can make the most adjustments and find a way to win.

The Ravens will be looking to avenge their Week 5 loss to the Bengals. The Bengals will be looking to build on their recent win over the Giants. This game is sure to be a hard-fought battle, and it will be interesting to see how both teams respond to the injuries they are facing.

This game is sure to be a high-scoring affair, and it will be interesting to see how both teams adjust to the absence of their key players. It will be exciting to see how both teams adjust to the absences of their key players and how the game plays out on Thursday night.