With Isaiah Likely nursing a fractured foot that’ll keep him out for several weeks, third tight end Charlie Kolar has stepped into the spotlight like he’s been waiting his whole life for this chance. And honestly? Maybe he has.
The 26-year-old, former fourth-round pick from 2022 has been mainly a blocker, but when Likely or Mark Andrews have been out the last two years, the former Iowa State Cyclone stepped up. Heading into year four with the Baltimore Ravens, he has another shot to shine in September, specifically.
Charlie Kolar’s Breakout Performance vs. Indy
During the Ravens’ joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts, it wasn’t Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews making the biggest splash. It wasn’t the injured Likely cheering from the sidelines. It was Charlie Kolar, who’s been quietly grinding in Baltimore’s system for a few seasons.
Two massive plays defined Kolar’s afternoon. First, he hauled in a perfectly placed Lamar Jackson strike, threading the needle between linebacker Cameron McGrone and safety Nick Cross. The hit from Cross would’ve rattled lesser players, but Kolar held on tight, popped up, and emphatically signaled first down like he’d been doing it for years.
The second play? Pure poetry in motion. Kolar got behind the defense on a crossing route, tracked Lamar Jackson‘s lob perfectly, secured the catch, and rumbled down the sideline for what felt like forever before stepping out of bounds just shy of the goal line.
“Awesome, man,” Jackson said with that trademark smile.
“Charlie is getting a great feel for the game. He’s looking like a little Mark and a little Isaiah out there, in his own way. He’s coming along great.”
Coming from your franchise quarterback, that’s not just praise, that’s validation.
Against the Dallas Cowboys in Preseason Week 2, Kolar went 3 for 3 and had 20 receiving yards with backup quarterback play.
While he is lower on the pecking order in terms of targets, we all saw his debut as a big-time player against the Cincinnati Bengals last season, catching a career-high 64 yards and a touchdown, including a crazy 55-yard run and catch. Anytime he has had the chance to step up, Kolar has.
From Receiver to Complete Tight End
Here’s what makes Kolar’s rise even more impressive: the dude completely reinvented himself. When Baltimore drafted him in the fourth round three years ago, he was essentially a big wide receiver. Iowa State barely asked him to block, maybe once or twice the entire season.
Fast forward to today, and Kolar has become known more for his blocking than his pass-catching. That’s not an accident, that’s Baltimore’s tight end factory at work.
“Charlie came in as a receiver,” head coach John Harbaugh explained. “That’s the interesting thing. And I do think he’s grown as a receiver, also, but probably his biggest growth came as a blocker. He never blocked, I don’t think—maybe one time—at Iowa State. Now, he’s kind of known as a blocker, and yet he had two or three big, huge, passing play catches today.”
The numbers back up Harbaugh’s point. Last season, among tight ends with at least 100 blocking snaps, Andrews ranked fourth in Pro Football Focus blocking grades, Likely came in 14th, and Kolar? He was 19th. For a guy who barely blocked in college, that’s remarkable development.
Why Baltimore’s Tight End Room is Special
The Ravens aren’t just any team when it comes to tight ends; they’re basically the gold standard. Last season, Baltimore used two tight ends on 45% of their offensive plays, the highest rate in the NFL by a country mile. No other team even cracked 40%.
That’s not a coincidence; that’s design. With Jackson’s dynamic running ability and Derrick Henry now in the backfield, Baltimore needs tight ends who can do everything. Block for the run game, create mismatches in the passing game, and handle the physical demands of AFC North football.
“I think Charlie is one of the smartest players that I’ve been around,” tight ends coach George Godsey said. “He knows everybody’s responsibility. He knows what play is next on [offensive coordinator Todd] Monken’s sheet. He has a very good intuition, defensively, of what’s going on. So, we put a lot of pressure on him to go out there, react, and to play fast, too.”
That football IQ is what separates good players from great ones, and it’s why Kolar has earned the trust of his coaches and teammates.
Mark Andrews Still Rolling
While Kolar grabbed headlines, don’t sleep on what Andrews is doing. The veteran tight end, who led all tight ends with 11 touchdown catches last season, continued his torrid pace during the joint practice.
Andrews showcased his red zone mastery against the Colts, breaking away from safety Camryn Bynum and snagging a Jackson pass while falling to the turf. It’s the kind of play that made him a Pro Bowler, and it’s exactly what Baltimore needs from their veteran leader.
“I believe his feel for the game [helps him in the red zone],” Jackson said. “He has a feel for where he is on the field and the routes we have going on. He got a great eye for the defense.”
Andrews has been Jackson’s most reliable target during camp, finding soft spots in zone coverage and using his body to create separation in man coverage. Even without live tackling, he’s running with purpose after every catch, setting the tone for the entire tight end room.
The Likely Timeline
Likely’s injury timeline puts his return right around Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills, six weeks from when he fractured his foot. That’s cutting it close, but there’s optimism he could be ready for the season opener.
Until then, Kolar is making the most of every rep with the first team. The former fourth-round pick has just 20 career receptions for 267 yards and two touchdowns, but those numbers don’t tell the whole story of his development.
Perhaps the most telling moment of the joint practice came during simple one-on-one drills. When Kolar reeled in a pass from third-string quarterback Devin Leary, a voice cut through the noise from off the field: “Yeah, Charlie!”
It was Likely, beaming as he watched his teammate succeed. That’s the kind of brotherhood that makes championship teams, and it’s exactly what Baltimore has built in their tight end room.
What This Means for 2025
With Kolar’s emergence, the Ravens might just have something special brewing. A healthy Andrews provides elite production and veteran leadership. Likely brings explosive playmaking ability and red zone threats. And now Kolar has shown he can step up when his number is called.
That’s a three-headed monster that could give defensive coordinators nightmares. Baltimore’s offense is already built around creating mismatches with its tight ends, and having three legitimate weapons at the position only makes Jackson’s job easier.
The season opener against Buffalo feels like a lifetime away, but practices like this one against Indianapolis show why Ravens fans should be excited. Whether it’s Andrews making his signature catches, Likely returning from injury, or Kolar seizing his moment, Baltimore’s tight end room is loaded with talent and ready for whatever comes next.
