The Ravens have signed defensive tackles Taven Bryan and Josh Tupou to their practice squad, adding depth with Pro Bowler Nnamdi Madubuike dealing with a neck injury.
Bryan was a first-round pick (No. 29 overall) in 2018 by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 6-foot-4, 291-pounder has 11.5 sacks and 24 tackles for loss in seven seasons.
Bryan, 29, played four seasons in Jacksonville but never established himself as a full-time starter there. He signed with the Cleveland Browns the following season and was a 16-game starter who registered a career-high three sacks and 26 tackles.
A Wyoming native and University of Florida product, Bryan spent the past two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, playing in every game and starting 13 contests. He played 29% of their defensive snaps, logging three sacks and 42 tackles. He was credited with just one missed tackle over the past two seasons.
Bryan signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in July but didn't make their 53-man roster.
Tupou, a seven-year veteran, was on the Ravens' practice squad last season after spending his first five seasons with the Bengals. He played in three games for Baltimore last year with three tackles and one sack. The 6-foot-3, 340-pound nose tackle signed with the Colts in July but was released from their practice squad before Week 1.
Madubuike didn't practice at all last week and was ruled out for "Monday Night Football" against the Detroit Lions. On Saturday, Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh said the team's top defensive lineman was undergoing tests on his neck.
"Nothing specific in the game where we saw it actually happen, but they're dealing with the symptoms, and they're testing right now," Harbaugh said. "They're going to try to get to the bottom of it."
Without Madubuike, the Ravens gave up 224 rushing yards to the Lions, with the bulk of the damage happening on runs up the middle. Baltimore also got zero sacks on Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Madubuike led the Ravens with 13 sacks in 2023.
The Ravens called up defensive end Brent Urban from the practice squad to help with Madubuike sidelined against the Lions, but Bryan provides more defensive tackle help.
