The Baltimore Ravens looked lost in a 32-14 loss to their AFC North Division rival Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13 — now they’ve lost a key piece on special teams as well.
“Ravens linebacker Chandler Martin is expected to go on season-ending injured reserve after suffering a knee injury Thursday night vs Bengals, per source,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on his official X account on Friday, November 28 .
Martin, a rookie out of Memphis, made the Ravens roster as an undrafted free agent and had played in 3 regular season games and exclusively on special teams.
Martin, who had 5 tackles in the previous 2 games, was hurt on the opening kickoff against the Bengals.
“(Ravens head coach) Jim Harbaugh said that Nate Wiggins could miss time but not a long term thing,” The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec wrote on X. “Chandler Martin has a significant knee injury. He said that Justice Hill has a disc issue in neck.”
The Ravens had a 3-game winning streak snapped against the Bengals which evened their record at 6-6 overall. They return to action in Week 14 with another AFC North tilt against the first place Pittsburgh Steelers.
Martin Named UDFA to Watch in Preseason
Pro Football Network’s Brandon Austin put the 5-foot-11, 229-pound Martin on his list of undrafted free agents to watch in the preseason.
“Chandler Martin is a hard-nosed, old-school inside linebacker with the kind of physicality and motor that fits Baltimore’s defensive DNA,” Austin wrote on June 6. “He plays with a downhill mentality and has a knack for delivering thumping hits in the box. His instincts and effort stand out on tape, making him a reliable tackler who isn’t afraid to mix it up with offensive linemen in close quarters.”
Martin started his college career at East Tennessee State, where he played 3 seasons, before playing his final 2 season at Memphis, where he was a 2-time All-AAC pick in 2023 and 2024.
In 2 seasons with the Tigers, Martin was a stats machine with 206 tackles, 10.0 sacks and 3 forced fumbles in 26 games.
The reason he didn’t get drafted boils down to size, where he’s a few inches shorter and about 10-20 pounds lighter than a typical NFL inside linebacker.
“The lack of elite physical traits could be why a productive player like Martin went undrafted, but there certainly could be a role for a player with his nose for the ball and ability to get after the quarterback,” Heavy.com’s Derek Tate wrote.
One Injury Set Ravens Defense Back in Big Way
It was an injury to a defensive player that set the Ravens back more than anything else this year when NFL All-Pro and 2-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike suffered a season-ending neck injury in a Week 2 win over the Cleveland Browns.
It’s still not clear when — or even if — Madubuike will be able to return.
“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!”
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