The Ravens released their first injury report of Week 4 with six players missing Wednesday’s practice, including the team’s top three defensive linemen: Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, and Broderick Washington.
John Harbaugh’s comments last week were an early sign that Madubuike’s neck injury could be a long-term issue, and he struck an even more worried tone on Wednesday.
“I would say I am concerned about it, but I’m not really in a position to comment on it right now,” said Harbaugh before indicating
that medical evaluations are still ongoing. Not good.
As Monday night showed, Madubuike’s absence leaves a gaping hole in the middle of Baltimore’s defense. He is easily the Ravens’ best defensive lineman and the team’s premier run-stopper and pass rusher. He seems poised to miss a significant amount of time, and the roster just isn’t built to withstand that.
The Ravens held a walk-through on Wednesday, so here are the team’s estimated injury designations:
Limited participation
- TE Isaiah Likely (foot)
Did not participate
- DT Travis Jones (knee)
- DT Nnamdi Madubuike (neck)
- FB Patrick Ricard (calf)
- OT Ronnie Stanley (ankle)
- OLB Kyle Van Noy (hamstring)
- DT Broderick Washington (ankle)
With Travis Jones and Broderick Washington also sidelined, the Ravens’ D-line room is suddenly down three starters. Baltimore added two veteran defensive tackles to their practice squad on Wednesday to shore up the unit’s depth – usually a warning sign – but Harbaugh was optimistic about Jones and Washington.
“I have a good feeling about those guys, but we will have to wait and see,” he said.
Though Ronnie Stanley did not practice on Wednesday, he played every snap against the Lions, indicating that his ankle injury was not severe enough to knock him out of the game. The Ravens will be hoping he can get back on the field on Thursday and be ready to go in Kansas City.
The Chiefs had 13 players on their Wednesday injury report, but only two – defensive end Mike Danna (quad) and cornerback Kristian Fulton (ankle) – were limited participants. The other 11 all practiced in full, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes (right wrist), center Creed Humphrey (rib), and wide receiver Hollywood Brown (ankle).
