The 2025 NFL season had already taken a tough turn for Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowler Kyle Van Noy after he suffered a serious hamstring injury against the Cleveland Browns, but the outside linebacker’s first play against the Ravens‘ AFC North rivals has proved just as costly in a different way.
Van Noy was officially hit with a significant fine on Saturday, September 20 for his actions during Baltimore’s 41-17 win at M&T Bank Stadium in Week 2. Details were provided by Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, who reported “Van Noy was fined $17,389 for landing his ‘body weight’ on the quarterback in last Sunday’s Browns came. The play in question was at the 14:56 mark of the first quarter, so first play from scrimmage.”
Van Noy landed on the wrong side of the rules with his instant hit of Browns quarterback and former Ravens Super Bowl winner Joe Flacco. The latter was decked at the hip by last season’s sack leader for the Ravens.
Being left unblocked allowed Van Noy to close on the pocket in a hurry, shown in highlights from The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer.
A fiscal penalty is more bad news for a key member of the Ravens‘ front seven. More bad news on a day when the group also lost an All-Pro along the defensive line for Week 3’s game against the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football.
It’s another blow after Van Noy was ruled out for “multiple weeks,” leaving the Ravens without the two pillars of their pass rush. Finding competent replacements for either won’t be a simple task, but there are at least plenty of options for defensive coordinator Zach Orr to consider.
Ravens Need Natural Kyle Van Noy Successor
Van Noy is a tough act to follow, but there are some interesting candidates who could emerge as the 34-year-old’s natural successor. The most intriguing are third-year pro Tavius Robinson and rookie Mike Green.
Robinson is a physical specimen identified as a potential “centerpiece” this season. The 6-foot-6, 262-pounder was in fine form against the Browns, forcing the fumble middle linebacker Roquan Smith returned for a touchdown, per DAZN Canada.
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This is the kind of play the Ravens are counting on seeing often from this year’s second-round draft pick Green. It’s not an unreasonable expectation when Green led college football in sacks last season, and has been learning some of the nuances of the pro game from a key member of the legendary 2000 defense.
Green generated his first pressure at this level against the Browns, per Pro Football Reference, so he’s looking increasingly equipped to boost a pass rush needing to replace Van Noy’s influence.
Things aren’t so simple along the defensive line.
Gaps Along D-Line Tougher to Plug for Ravens
Being without Nnamdi Madubuike will leave the Ravens with the unenviable task of replacing their most dynamic interior pass-rusher. That won’t be easy, but another rookie will get first crack to make the job his own.
Sixth-rounder Aeneas Peebles will “see increased playing time in Madubuike’s absence,” according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. Former Virginia Tech stud Peebles has the raw skills to put heat on the pocket, evidenced by this “nasty outside spin sack” from last season, highlighted by Aaron Day of DLineVids.
The Ravens will need Peebles to reach his potential ahead of schedule because fellow D-tackles Travis Jones and John Jenkins are run-stuffers limited against the pass. They won’t do what Madubuike can, so Orr and his staff may need to get creative with stunts and games in the trenches to keep the pressure high.
Ravens Pro Bowler Fined 5 Figures for 1st Play vs. Browns