Ravens Place Key defensive Tackle nnamdi Madubuike on Injured Reserve
BALTIMORE, MD – The Baltimore Ravens announced Friday they have placed Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike on injured reserve, sidelining a pivotal player as the team navigates a challenging stretch of games. The move comes after Madubuike sustained a neck injury during the Ravens’ Week 2 victory over the Cleveland Browns on September 14th, though the exact moment of the injury was initially unclear.
Madubuike’s absence is a meaningful blow to a Ravens defense currently struggling to contain opponents.Baltimore ranks 30th in the NFL against the run and 31st against the pass, and recently allowed a season-high 207 rushing yards between the tackles to the Detroit Lions on Monday night – the most since ESPN began tracking that statistic in 2006. The team also failed to record a sack in the loss, a first in four years.As the start of the 2023 season, Madubuike has recorded a team-leading 21.5 sacks, the most among all NFL defensive tackles.
The 27-year-old Madubuike had started 55 consecutive games before the injury. He is in the second year of a four-year, $98 million contract with $75.5 million guaranteed.
In addition to madubuike, the Ravens have placed defensive end broderick Washington (ankle) on injured reserve. Baltimore has responded by signing defensive end Brent Urban and tight end zaire Mitchell-Paden to the 53-man roster, and elevating defensive tackle C.J. Okoye and nose tackle Josh Tupou from the practise squad.
The Ravens (1-2) will face the Kansas City Chiefs on sunday,seeking to avoid their first 1-3 start in a decade. They will also play upcoming games against the Houston Texans, Los Angeles Rams, and Chicago Bears without two key defensive linemen.
