Sources: Ravens’ Nnamdi Madubuike hopes to return in ’27

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens defensive sort out Nnamdi Madubuike underwent neck surgical procedure final week that left medical doctors believing the two-time Pro Bowler will likely be ready to resume enjoying this season, sources instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Madubuike’s return would offer an enormous carry for a Ravens protection that completed twenty fourth final season and struggled to get to the quarterback with out him. It would additionally cut back the urgency for Baltimore to use an early spherical choose on a defensive sort out in this yr’s draft, which begins Thursday.

Madubuike, 28, had been probably the most dominant inside defensive linemen in the NFL earlier than he suffered a career-threatening neck harm in Week 2 final season and missed the ultimate 15 video games.

His well being had been one of many greatest query marks surrounding the Ravens this offseason. Ravens officers have been obscure over the past seven months about his return, and Madubuike has not spoken to reporters because the harm.

There have been current indicators of optimism. On Jan. 30, Madubuike wrote “Good news” on social media with the prayer palms emoji. This month, Ravens director of energy and conditioning Scott Elliott mentioned Madubuike was collaborating in the group’s offseason exercise program, noting Madubuike is “working his tail off” and is “in great shape.”

A 3rd-round choose in 2020, Madubuike has turn into Baltimore’s most disruptive participant up entrance. From the beginning of 2023 till he was positioned on injured reserve Sept. 27, Madubuike’s 21.5 sacks have been essentially the most by an NFL defensive sort out. His 69 profession quarterback hits are essentially the most on the Ravens since 2020.

Baltimore struggled to get constant strain on quarterbacks with out Madubuike, as no Ravens participant had greater than 5 sacks final season. The Ravens went from second in the NFL with 54 sacks in 2024 to simply 30 sacks final season — the group’s fewest in 15 years.

Madubuike’s return would additionally reinforce the defensive entrance. The different defensive linemen on the roster are Travis Jones, John Jenkins, Aeneas Peebles, CJ Okoye and Broderick Washington Jr..

At the tip of the season, Ravens proprietor Steve Bisciotti mentioned there was a “domino effect” for not having Madubuike. Bisciotti made the purpose that exterior linebacker Kyle Van Noy went from a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2024 to two sacks in 2025 as a result of Madubuike wasn’t there to draw double-teams.

“Not having Nnamdi this year was a horrible situation for our team,” Ravens basic supervisor Eric DeCosta mentioned after the season ended. “I think it affected us in different ways — in many ways. He is a great player, a great person [and] “a particular individual.”