Nnamdi Madubuike: Everything you need to know

Coach Jesse Minter said Wednesday that Madubuike is "trending in a great direction" as he rehabs from the surgery he underwent in April to address a lingering neck injury, NFL.com reports. Minter said that Madubuike was even participating in a limited fashion during the Ravens' offseason program, but there is still not a timeline for his full return to the practice field. Until he's fully healthy again, veteran free agent acquisition Calais Campbell and 2025 sixth-rounder Aeneas Peebles could get more reps with the first team on the defensive line.

Madubuike underwent neck surgery mid-April and there is optimism he will be able to retake the field during the 2026 season, Jamison Hensley of ESPN reports. Madubuike suffered what was feared to potentially be a career-threatening injury in Week 2 of the 2025 campaign, so to see increased optimism after his recent surgery represents tremendous news for the Ravens. Earlier in April, Baltimore's director of strength and conditioning Scott Elliott confirmed that Madubuike has been participating in the team's voluntary workout program. The 28-year-old DT is the pillar of the Ravens' defensive front and has totaled a team-high 69 QB hits since entering the league in 2020.

Head coach Jon Harbaugh told reporters Monday that Madubuike (neck) won't return this season, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports. The 27-year-old defensive lineman was placed on injured reserve prior to the Ravens' Week 4 loss to the Chiefs due to a neck injury, and it now appears he'll be sidelined for the remainder of the season. The loss of Madubuike is huge for a Ravens defense that's struggled this season, as he posted 99 total tackles, including 19.5 sacks, over his last two full seasons. Aeneas Peebles is expected to serve as one of Baltimore's top defensive ends while Madubuike remains sidelined.