As the Ravens ramp up preparations for their Week 4 showdown with the Chiefs, concerns about defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike are not dissipating.
Madubuike is expected to miss his second straight game because of a neck injury, and head coach John Harbaugh doesn’t seem to know when he will return.
“I would say I am concerned about it, but I’m not really in a position to comment on it right now — haven’t been given the OK to comment on it at this point,” Harbaugh said Wednesday, via the Associated Press. “He’s not going to play this week, I can tell you that. We’re going to have to see going forward, when they know what they need to know.”
Coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances, the 27-year-old Madubuike has seven tackles and two sacks in two games this season.
Struggling Defense Called Out After Week 3 Loss
Madubuike’s had 30 sacks in parts of six seasons, and his absence loomed large in Monday’s 38-30 loss to the Lions. The Ravens allowed 224 yards rushing — the most since 2017 — and had their 57-game sack streak snapped.
Afterward, Harbaugh called out the defense’s effort.
“There’s nobody in that locker room that thinks that’s good enough,” Harbaugh said, via the team’s website. “That’s disappointing. That’s bad run defense, and that’s not who we are. It cannot be who we are. It’s not acceptable, and it has to be better.”
It’s not clear when the Ravens might have a more definitive update on Madubuike’s outlook. Harbaugh has not ruled out placing Madubuike on injured reserve, which sideline him for a minimum of four games.
Ravens Defensive Line Ravaged by Injuries
In addition to Madubuike, defensive tackles Travis Jones (knee) and Broderick Washington Jr. (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. It raises the possibility that Baltimore (1-2) could be without its entire starting defensive line for Sunday’s game in Kansas City (4:25 p.m. ET).
Linebacker Kyle Van Noy (hamstring) also didn’t practice Wednesday and is trending toward missing his second straight game.
Veteran nose tackle John Jenkins and rookie sixth-rounder Aeneas Peebles are the only healthy defensive linemen on the current 53-man roster. To help address that issue, the Ravens signed Taven Bryan and Josh Tupou to the practice squad.
A 2018 first-round pick, Bryan made 13 starts over the last two seasons with the Colts. Bryan played 29% of their defensive snaps, registering 42 tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble. He spent this preseason with the Bengals but was released during the final round of cuts.
Topou was on the Ravens’ practice squad last season. He appeared in three games with Baltimore, recording three tackles and one sack. He most recently spent time on the Colts’ practice squad this summer before being released ahead of Week 1.
Ravens Coach Shares Concerning Update on Status of Injured Defensive Star