John Harbaugh Officially Gives Up On Isaiah Likely After Ravens TE Ruled Out Vs. Bills

The Baltimore Ravens knew Sunday night in Buffalo would be a test of their roster’s resilience. Losing tight end Isaiah Likely removed a reliable pass-catching safety valve, while the absence of fullback Patrick Ricard stripped the run game of its signature bulldozer. With two foundational pieces of the offense sidelined in the same week, adjustments were inevitable.

Head coach John Harbaugh isn’t banking on a quick return for Likely. Rather than sticking to the team’s traditional run-heavy blueprint, one that typically leans on Ricard’s physical presence, Baltimore opted for a more flexible approach. The Ravens elevated tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden from the practice squad, positioning him as the next man up to fill the void left by Likely and offer quarterback Lamar Jackson another sizable target in the passing game.

Ravens have elevated TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden from the practice squad for Sunday night’s game in Buffalo.
They do not elevate FB Lucas Scott.
They needed another TE/FB with both Patrick Ricard and Isaiah Likely having been ruled out.

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) September 6, 2025

The move signals a strategic pivot, one that reflects both necessity and opportunity as Baltimore prepares to face a formidable Bills defense under the primetime lights.

Stay tuned for more updates…

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