Of all the injuries the Baltimore Ravens have experienced to this point in the 2025 season, this one hurts the most.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh announced on September 29 that NFL All-Pro and 2-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike would miss the rest of the season with a neck injury.
The news comes just one day after the Ravens dropped to 1-3 after a 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4.
Harbaugh declined to answer a question about whether Madubuike’s injury might cost him more than just the rest of this season or could even be career ending.
“I’m trying to explain it in the best way I can in terms of what I’m allowed to tell you,” Harbaugh told a group of reporters. “A lot of that are things he needs to address with you guys, on his time. Those are questions best addressed by him going forward.”
Madubuike missed the game against the Chiefs. He reportedly hurt his neck in a Week 2 win over the Cleveland Browns.
“Prayers up for Nnamdi Madubuike,” Ravens Realm wrote on its official X account. “One of the most disruptive and pivotal players on the Ravens defense and he’s out for the year. Madubuike is only 27 years old, and there’s speculation that his career may be over. Great athlete, even better person. Praying for health!”
Ravens Initially Placed Madubuike on IR
The Ravens initially placed Madubuike on injured reserve on September 27 with the hopes he might be able to return in Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins.
“We have placed Nnamdi Madubuike and Broderick Washington on injured reserve,” the Ravens wrote on their official X account. “We have signed DE Brent Urban and TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden to the 53-man roster. We have also elevated DT C.J. Okoye and NT Josh Tupou from the practice squad for tomorrow’s game.”
Madubuike, 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, is also one of the NFL’s highest paid players at his position after he signed a 4-year, $98 million contract extension in March 2024.
“The Ravens placed DT Nnamdi Madubuike on IR,” NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo wrote on his official X account on September 27. “He’ll miss at least four games. A huge loss for Baltimore’s defense.”
Elite Defensive Talent Goes Missing
Not having Madubuike robs the Ravens of having one of the NFL’s elite defensive talents at every level — linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton are also NFL All-Pros.
Smith is also dealing with an injury issue following the loss to the Chiefs.
“Ravens All-Pro LB Roquan Smith was diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, sources say, and he’ll miss a few weeks,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on September 29. “Another Baltimore injury to its maligned defense.”
Madubuike will be almost impossible to replace in the middle with any single player.
“The 27-year-old Madubuike, the Ravens’ best defensive lineman who has made the Pro Bowl the past two seasons, has 21.5 sacks since the start of the 2023 season — the most by any defensive tackle in the league,” ESPN’s Jamison Hensley wrote on September 24. “Without Madubuike, the Ravens allowed 207 yards rushing between the tackles — the most they’ve allowed in a game since ESPN began tracking the stat in 2006 — in Monday’s 38-30 loss to the Detroit Lions. Baltimore also didn’t record a sack in a game for the first time in four years.”
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