For months now, there has been a growing sense that the Baltimore Ravens will get NFL All-Pro defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike back at some point in 2026.
The latest news on Madubuike seems to finally confirm as much.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday that Madubuike underwent surgery just last week for a severe neck injury suffered in Week 2 that cost him the final 15 games of the 2025 regular season.
“A boost for Baltimore during draft week: Ravens DT Nnamdi Madubuike, who suffered a season-ending and career-threatening neck injury in Week 2 last season, underwent neck surgery last week that left his doctors believing he will be able to resume playing this season, per sources,” Schefter wrote on his official X account on Tuesday. “From the start of 2023 until he was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 27, Madubuike’s 21.5 sacks were the most among NFL defensive tackles. His 69 career QB hits are the most by a Raven player since 2020.”
Madubuike, when he’s healthy, has been 1 of the NFL’s elite interior defensive linemen — and 1 of the highest paid. He signed a 4-year, $98 million contract extension with the Ravens before the 2024 season.
“Great to hear this news from Nnamdi Madubike,” ESPN’s Field Yates wrote on his official X account on Tuesday. “A gigantic lift for a Ravens defense that didn’t have a single player register more than 5.0 sacks in 2025.”
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The Ravens made some huge moves to improve their defensive front in 2026 after the loss of Madubuike and injuries that cost quarterback Lamar Jackson 5 games in 2025 were the 2 main factors that sent Baltimore from Super Bowl contenders in the preseason to missing the postseason for the 1st time since 2021.
After attempting — and failing — at a trade for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby, the Ravens went out and signed NFL All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson to a 4-year, $112 million free-agent contract.
If Madubuike can return to form, being paired with Hendrickson should be a scary thought for opposing teams.
“Madubuike suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 2 last year, which some privately thought could end his career,” The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov wrote on his official X account after Schefter’s report. “Huge news.”
Huge Questions Remain About Madubuike’s Injury
While Schefter’s report should be looked at as a positive step forward for the Ravens and Madubuike, it almost leaves more questions than answers in its wake.
Let’s start with the most basic of those: When is he coming back? If his doctors think he can play in 2026, when might that happen?
It’s safe to assume that Madubuike not being available for the offseason or training camp might not be an option after he just had neck surgery — and it also begs the question of why Madubuike has been going through workouts while he still needed neck surgery. Wouldn’t that be considered an unnecessary risk?
The biggest question about Madubuike, however, is the timing of the surgery.
If he was hurt in Week 2 of the 2025 regular season — a 41-17 win over the Cleveland Browns on September 14 — why didn’t he have surgery until over 7 months later?
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