The Baltimore Ravens did well to earn their first win of the 2025 campaign in Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns, but they have another tough matchup on their slate in Week 3 against the Detroit Lions. Making matters even worse, star defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike has already been ruled out for this game due to a neck injury.
Moving forward, Madubuike’s status is going to be worth keeping tabs on, but for now, the team’s primary focus is on finding a way to take down the Lions on Monday Night Football. And in order to do that, the Ravens may need sixth-round rookie Aeneas Peebles to step up and deliver the goods for them.
Ravens Relying on Aeneas Peebles in Nnamdi Madubuike’s Absence
Madubuike has been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the past two seasons, as he’s turned himself into one of the most disruptive interior defensive linemen in the league. The Ravens drafted Peebles with the hope that he could develop behind Madubuike as a rookie, but now, he appears set to find himself taking on a bigger role in his absence, and he knows how big the shoes are that he is being asked to fill.
It would hurt any team,” Peebles said of the Ravens losing Madubuike. “He’s one of the best defensive tackles in this whole entire league. He’s somebody that I love watching his game, love studying his game, so it hurts. It hurts not having an All-Pro defender out there.”
Broderick Washington Jr., Travis Jones, and John Jenkins will all factor into the mix on the defensive line for Baltimore, but Peebles is the guy who seems in line to see the biggest increase in snaps, at least for the team’s contest against Detroit. Head coach John Harbaugh all but confirmed that when discussing Madubuike’s absence, and it sounds like he has faith in the sixth-round rookie’s ability to deliver the goods.
“He is going to need to step up,” Harbaugh admitted when speaking to reporters. “It’s kind of just, to your point, with Nnamdi being out, those guys are all going to have to step up and pick up the slack. Definitely with ‘Fub,’ he has to do that in the run game and the pass game, whenever he is in there, no drop off at all. I know he is going to play hard, he’s going to get after it, and I have a feeling he’ll make a few plays.”
Ravens Looking to Earn Second Straight Win in High-Profile Clash with Lions
GettyORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 07: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens yells down field against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium on September 07, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
The Lions feature one of the most dangerous offensive units in the league, so the Ravens are going to have their work cut out for them, especially now that one of their best players has been ruled out. Getting contributions from everyone is going to be key, and that includes Peebles in what figures to be the most important game of his young career.
Having a dominant offense on the other side of the ball obviously helps, and you can bet Lamar Jackson and company will be intent on putting up as many points as possible. This game could end up being a shootout, and with kickoff scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET, fans aren’t going to want to miss a second of this highly anticipated matchup.
Ravens Will Need Rookie Defensive Lineman to Step Up After Nnamdi Madubuike Injury