Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike has made significant progress, but he won't play in the Ravens' season opener in Indianapolis, Head Coach Jesse Minter announced.
A neck injury forced Madubuike to the shelf after just two games last season. He returned to the practice field at the start of training camp and joined team drills last week.
Madubuike is on track to play within the Ravens' first four games of the season. It just won't be the first one.
"He is really, really close," Minter said. "It's been a great process for him to return from the injury that he had. We feel great about where he's at, but we're not going to play him this week."
Madubuike is one of the NFL's premier defensive linemen. He led all defensive tackles in sacks with 13 in 2023 and followed that up with 6.5 sacks in 2024, despite getting considerably more attention from opposing offensive lines. His absence last season had a ripple effect on Baltimore's pass rush and entire defense.
Madubuike's return will transform a Ravens defensive front that also features nose tackle Travis Jones and veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell in the trenches. For now, Broderick Washington Jr. is Madubuike's backup on the depth chart.
The Ravens and Madubuike have taken it slow with his return from such a serious injury, and that will continue as their star defensive lineman gets back into football shape.
"I think this is, most importantly, the best decision for him, and I think he's going to be ready to roll here soon," Minter said.
"He's been doing a lot at practice the last couple weeks as he's worked himself back. He's taken a lot of reps. He's been really involved and getting himself back into that part of the game with contact and football and double teams and pass rushing and all those things against people. He's in a really, really good place, and I just love where he's at."
