Seriously, did someone pay one of those Etsy witches
to curse the Ravens again? Is there a new electric substation near The Castle? What is going on?For years, fans blamed Steve Saunders, the team’s former and oft-criticized strength and conditioning coach, for the injuries that seemed to crop up in Baltimore annually. He was dismissed before the 2024 season, and the Ravens were one of the healthiest teams in the league. Problem solved, right?
Not so much. In 2025, the Ravens were battered by injuries,
often with multiple affecting the same position group. At various times, the defensive line, tight end/fullback, inside linebacker, and cornerback rooms were all missing at least two players – not to mention Lamar Jackson’s four absences that effectively doomed the team’s playoff hopes.
This season is off to a similar start. The Ravens are already selling with a slew of injuries, especially along their offensive line. By the start of Week 4, all three of the team’s preseason starting center candidates are on injured reserve, along with rookie receiver Ja’Kobi Lane and third-year cornerback T.J. Tampa. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley and left guard John Simpson have both been playing through injuries, and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson did the same with a fractured finger for two games before opting for surgery this week.
Then, on Sunday, three more starters went down, including two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson with an ankle injury. Andrew Vorhees, who stepped in at right guard with Vega Ioane sliding to center, went down with a foot injury, and Marlon Humphrey hurt his calf. Tight end Durham Smythe, who has been a key blocker to start the year, also suffered an Achilles injury.
Head coach Jesse Minter declined to offer any real updates on Sunday’s injuries outside of saying that Jackson would not be out “crazy long-term.” He has clearly embraced the team’s (understandable) desire to play injuries close to the chest. The team’s first Week 5 injury report will be posted on Wednesday and should provide more concrete information, along with any roster moves in the next 48 hours.
