Type 1 diabetes won't stop Mark Andrews from playing this season

Mark Andrews has more at stake than the average NFL player.

The Ravens tight end has type 1 diabetes, so he had initial concerns when the Covid-19 pandemic began to wreak havoc across the globe. Andrews does plan to play this season if the games proceed as planned.

“Initially when all of this came out, my first question was, ‘Are type-1 diabetics more susceptible? Or does it affect them any differently?’ And the word right now is that there's not too much more of a danger for me than [for] anybody else," he said in Zoom call with reporters. "So, just like everybody else, I'm staying smart, I'm staying inside, I'm social distancing myself from other people.

"That's all you can do. Everyone has to do their jobs and stay smart and listen to their health officials during this time, and I think we're going to be alright if we do that.”

The Ravens have high expectations for Andrews, who is entering his third year as a pro.

Last season, Andrews earned a trip to the Pro Bowl after setting team-highs in receptions (64), receiving yards (852), and receiving touchdowns (10).

Andrews and Kansas City's Travis Kelce were the only two tight ends to amass more than 200 receiving yards on receptions of 20 or more yards downfield.

Andrews also finished fifth among all tight ends with the 852 yards receiving, and he was the only player at that position with 10 touchdowns. Those 10 scores were also the most by a Ravens’ tight end in a single season.

Andrews also earned him the designation as one of the best performing tight ends in 2019, according to Pro Football Focus.

"I always have a big chip on my shoulder," Andrews said. "I've always been someone to want to take the next step and be great each and every year and get better each and every year. I think I had a good year last year. It's all about improving on that."