The Ravens ruled out Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike for Sunday's season opener at the Colts, but coach Jesse Minter said Madubuike is nearing a return from the neck injury that forced him to miss the last 15 games of last season. "He is really, really close," Minter said after Friday's practice. "He's going to be ready to roll here soon. He's in a really good place and just love where he's at."
Madubuike suffered a significant neck injury on Sept. 14 in a Week 2 game against the Browns. The Ravens were vague about the details of the injury, which caused uncertainty about his future. Madubuike underwent neck surgery in April, which left doctors believing he would be able to resume playing this season.
Speaking to reporters for the first time since hurting his neck, Madubuike called the past year "one of the hardest points of my life" but said he never thought the injury would end his career. "In my head, I always knew -- I had no doubt -- I was going to be back," he said.
From the start of 2023 until he was put on injured reserve on Sept. 27 last year, Madubuike's 21.5 sacks were the most by an NFL defensive tackle. Without him last season, no Ravens player had more than five sacks, and Baltimore's sack total dropped from second in the NFL with 54 in 2024 to 30 last season, the team's fewest in 15 years.
