The Ravens’ defense is dealing with multiple injuries ahead of Chiefs game
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Ravens miss multiple starting defensive linemen at practice before Chiefs game
- Pro Bowl tackle Madubuike ruled out; other injured linemen remain uncertain
- Baltimore ranks last in yards allowed but leads NFL in scoring through 3 games
The headline on the Baltimore Ravens’ website Thursday morning may have seemed to be hyperbolic:
“Ravens’ Starting Defensive Line Missing From Practice”
The entire defensive line? Well, yes. That was the case Wednesday.
“Defensive tackles Nnamdi Madubuike (neck), Travis Jones, and Broderick Washington Jr. were not spotted as rain came down at the Under Armour Performance Center,” Ravens team reporter Ryan Mink wrote.
“Veteran nose tackle John Jenkins and rookie Aeneas Peebles are the only defensive linemen on the 53-man roster who are practicing.”
Washington is dealing with an ankle injury, while Jones has a knee injury.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters that Madubuike will not play against the Chiefs. But he’s hopeful the others will be ready for Sunday’s game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
“I have a good feeling about those guys,” Harbaugh said. “But, you know, we’ll have to wait and see.”
Baltimore’s defense is ranked last in yards allowed in the NFL and is 31st in points allowed. However, the Ravens, 1-2, have the NFL’s top-scoring offense with 111 points in three games.
Madubuike made the Pro Bowl the last two seasons, when he had 19 1/2 sacks. He didn’t play Monday night when the Lions rushed for a whopping 224 yards.
“Obviously, he’s a guy that we need and is dominant,” outside linebacker Odafe Oweh told ESPN of Madubuike. “I feel bad, but it’s the next man up mentality. We’d be doing him a disservice if we were out here not playing hard.”
Harbaugh believes the defense will play better even though the Ravens are 30th against the run and 31st against the pass.
“We’ll be OK, we’ll be fine,” Harbaugh told reporters Wednesday. “There’s a lot of real simple things that we didn’t do very well at times. We’ll have the same play, really, against the same defense two different times. And one time it’s no gain, because we’re pretty much exactly where we’re supposed to be, and another time we’re not where we’re supposed to be.
“And I think part of it’s just trying to do too much sometimes, I mean, sometimes we try to do more than our job, and that’s not really required. So that’s playing with a little more just calmness and belief in the whole structure and the 10 guys around you:”
This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 9:54 AM.
