Seeking to add defensive line depth ahead of their pivotal Week 4 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Baltimore Ravens have signed former first-round pick Taven Bryan to the practice squad, NFL Networkâs Mike Garafolo reported Wednesday.
Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike missed Mondayâs 38-30 loss to the Detroit Lions because of a neck injury, and the team has been mum on his status.
The 6-foot-4, 291-pound Bryan was drafted 29th overall out of Florida by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018 â three picks before the Ravens took quarterback Lamar Jackson â and played with three different teams over his first seven NFL seasons.
Madubuike’s Status Remains Uncertain
The Ravensâ defense is dealing with multiple injuries, though the biggest concern is the health of Madubuike. The two-time Pro Bowler, who had a career-high 13 sacks in 2023, hurt his neck in Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns and did not practice the following week. Head coach John Harbaugh said Sunday the team was still trying to decide how to proceed with Madubuike.
âItâs something that theyâre looking at,â Harbaugh said, via ESPN. âHe came up with symptoms after the game. But theyâre dealing with the symptoms, and theyâre testing right now. ⦠Theyâre trying to get to the bottom of it.â
Harbaugh did not rule out placing Madubuike on injured reserve, which would sideline him for a minimum of four games.
Without Madubuike, the Ravens allowed 30-plus points for the second time in three weeks and were gouged for 224 yards on the ground, the third-highest total since Harbaugh was hired in 2008. The Ravens also failed to record a sack.
âThereâs nobody in that locker room that thinks thatâs good enough,â Harbaugh said of his teamâs defensive effort. âThatâs disappointing. Thatâs bad run defense, and thatâs not who we are. It cannot be who we are. Itâs not acceptable, and it has to be better.â
Ravens Seek Veteran Help for Run Defense
Bryan has bounced around quite a bit over his NFL career. After four seasons with the Jaguars, where he had 86 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 63 games, Bryan spent the 2022 season with the Browns before landing with the Indianapolis Colts the following year. In 14 games last season as a Colt, Bryan recorded 20 tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery.
He was with the Cincinnati Bengals this summer but was released as part of final cuts in August.
While Bryan hasnât exactly lived up to his billing as one of the top defensive tackles of his draft class, heâs experienced with 46 career starts and could fill an important role as the Ravens look to avoid a 1-3 start.
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