Welcome back to Loose Feathers, a regular round-up of all the latest news and analysis about the Baltimore Ravens. In this week’s edition, we cover Nnamdi Madubuike’s return to full-team work in practice, landing spots for recent ex-Ravens, and media projections for the 2026 season. Let’s dive in!
Nnamdi Madubuike nears return
The Ravens were extremely cautious with Nnamdi Madubuike’s ramp-up in training camp, holding him out of 11-on-11 work for the entire preseason. He did not even make contact with a sled until the week before
the team’s last preseason game. But last week, the two-time Pro Bowler returned to full-team drills, a huge leap of progress that brings him one step closer to playing in a game.
Ian Rapoport (Good Morning Football, NFL Network)
I think it’s fair to say there was some doubt, especially heading into the offseason, on if he would play football again. Needed a procedure, needed it to go well, needed a lot of things to happen for him to be back on the field. And there he is, not only back on the field but doing individual drills and other such things for most of training camp. Now is in 11-on-11, a significant step, making you believe that Madubuike will be on the field when the season starts in Week 1 or shortly thereafter.
It is impossible to overstate Madubuike’s potential impact on Baltimore’s defense. The defensive line virtually collapsed after he went down in 2025. His return, along with the addition of Trey Hendrickson, could vault the Ravens pass rush from the bottom of the league last year to the top this season. But his ability to stuff the run could be just as important in Jesse Minter’s new defense.
2026 NFL season X factors: Key players for all 32 teams – Ben Solak (ESPN)
In 2023, Madubuike had 13 sacks at defensive tackle. Preposterous stuff. A comprehensive list of defensive tackles who had at least 13 sacks in a season over the past decade: Aaron Donald (twice) and Chris Jones (twice). That’s it…
…Defensive tackle comes into even greater focus when you consider how often new head coach Jesse Minter runs light boxes (fifth-highest light-box rate in football last season). Strong defensive tackle play is a must for teams trying to fit the run from two-high shells, and next to Travis Jones, Madubuike can stuff early-down runs and get the defense to passing downs. There, a deeper bench of rushers can take some of the pressure off him.
Former Ravens make career moves
Linebacker Kyle Van Noy signs with Vikings on practice squad (ESPN)
Van Noy, 35, played the past three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He followed up a career year in 2024 with one of his most disappointing seasons last year, struggling to generate consistent pressure. He finished his last campaign with just two sacks, ending a run of six straight seasons with at least five.
But with the Vikings, he should provide some needed depth and experience at the edge rusher position, where Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner give Minnesota a dynamic set of starters, but the rest of the depth chart is largely unproven.
Giants To Sign LB Malik Harrison – Adam La Rose (Pro Football Rumors)
This deal will allow for a reunion between Harrison and head coach John Harbaugh after the two worked together in Baltimore from 2020-24. During that time, Harrison primarily contributed on special teams but he also logged 372 defensive snaps on defense during his final Ravens campaign. Upon arrival in Pittsburgh, the former third-rounder saw a career-high 40% defensive snap share while playing 11 games.
Additionally, former Ravens tight end Qadir Ismail signed with the Bears’ practice squad. Evan Beerntsen, the team’s final draft pick this year (Round 7, No. 253 overall) worked out for the Raiders and the Seahawks, and kicker Justin Tucker had a tryout with the Jets.
Media projections for the Ravens’ 2026 season
AFC North Preview: Should You Believe in the Bengals? – Sheil Kapadia (The Ringer)
The Super Bowl case here is straightforward: Jackson is healthy and thrives in the new offensive system. The offensive line overachieves. A young pass catcher like rookie Ja’Kobi Lane emerges as a quality second option. And Minter coaches the defense to a top-five level.
I see a very good team, but the issues above give me pause. I see a team that can win in different ways. But I’m not sure I see an elite unit. I could get there with the offense if I trusted the offensive line or the pass catchers more. I could get there with the defense if I were confident in the pass rush.
I like the Ravens as a wild-card team with a Super Bowl ceiling. But ultimately, I think that they probably need one more offseason to build up the roster.
Projected record: 11-6
NFL team previews 2026: Predictions, rankings, depth charts – ESPN
Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 13-4
Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 8-9This season is a success if … the Ravens advance to at least the AFC Championship Game. Baltimore fired coach John Harbaugh because of a lack of deep playoff runs. The Ravens need to avoid quick exits under Jesse Minter. — [Jamison] Hensley
One key fantasy nugget: With Jackson’s electric dual-threat ability and a play-action-heavy system under new coordinator Declan Doyle, the Ravens quarterback is primed to produce big numbers. Jackson completed a league-best 80% of his play-action throws last season. — [Matt] Bowen
Bold prediction for 2026: The Ravens’ defense will rank in the top four in EPA per play. That’s a pretty big jump from last season, when it finished 16th. But in Minter’s first season with the Chargers, he took a defense that ranked 29th and brought it to seventh best. And Minter probably has more talent to work with in Baltimore. — [Seth] Walder
Who Will Have the NFL’s Best Offense in 2026? – Anthony Dabbundo (The Ringer)
7. Baltimore Ravens
You used to be able to ink Baltimore into the top five of any preseason offensive rankings, but the Ravens are entering this season with more questions than usual. They scored 40 points in a thrilling Week 1 loss to Buffalo last year, but for the rest of the season, Baltimore ranked only 13th in EPA per drive. Quarterback Lamar Jackson missed four games with a hamstring injury and never looked as explosive as a runner after returning. His 2025 pressure-to-sack rate was the highest of his career and one of the highest in the entire league. Will a healthier Jackson resemble his pre-2025 self? Or was last season’s decline in his rushing efficiency the beginning of an age-related trend? That question will become increasingly prevalent this season and beyond. Jackson’s mobility has always helped Baltimore’s line perform better than the sum of its parts, but having a less explosive version of him would place more pressure on the offensive line in protection and on Jackson to operate the traditional passing game.
The uncertainty does not end there. The Ravens have to replace longtime center Tyler Linderbaum, who departed for Las Vegas, while Declan Doyle takes over for Todd Monken as offensive coordinator. This will be Doyle’s first time calling plays after spending last year working as OC under Ben Johnson in Chicago—so this will also be the first test of Johnson’s coaching tentacles.
The Ravens still have a solid rushing infrastructure with Derrick Henry and one of the league’s most uniquely talented quarterbacks. But for the first time in years, ranking Baltimore among the NFL’s elite offenses requires projecting a rebound rather than relying on recent evidence.
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