The Baltimore Ravens received huge news on Nnamdi Madubuike, as the star pass rusher underwent neck surgery and the belief is he will be ready to play in 2026.
After months of waiting for word that Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike would make a comeback in 2026, that appears now to be the case. Per reports, the defensive tackle underwent neck surgery, and the belief is that he will be ready to play this season once recovered.
Per NFL insider Adam Schefter:
"A boost for Baltimore during draft week: Ravens DT Nnamdi Madubuike, who suffered a season-ending and career-threatening neck injury in Week 2 last season, underwent neck surgery last week that left his doctors believing he will be able to resume playing this season, per sources."
Madubuike was lost after Week 2 of the regular season after suffering a neck injury that led many to believe he would have a tough time returning to the field at all. Now, that appears not to be the case.
One thing of note is that the report did not indicate whether or not Madubuike would be ready for the start of the regular season, but it does indicate that there is a strong belief he can play this season.
Getting Madubuike back will be huge for the Ravens, who saw their 2025 defense struggle mightily without him on the field.
In the 2024 season, Madubuike secured 6.5 sacks and helped to propel linebacker Kyle Van Noy to 12.5 sacks. Without the defensive tackle drawing looks, Van Noy only secured 2.5 in 2025.
Madubuike is a strong pass rush that elevated everyone around him, and his absence was clearly seen and felt through the defense. Now, he is making his return at potentially just the right time.
The Ravens now have defensive mind Jesse Minter as head coach and the return of Anthony Weaver, but this time as the defensive coordinator. The pair will look to rebound the defense into what the organization has come to be known for through its inception to now.
Safety Kyle Hamilton also spoke boldly about the struggles the unit has had, especially in 2025, and spoke about returning the defensive side of the ball to prominence. With Madubuike returning, that can certainly happen.
It will be interesting to see how this shapes the Ravens' draft plans, and if they still plan to land a defensive tackle with one of their 11 picks. General manager Eric DeCosta did indicate this, but having their Pro Bowl starter back will go a long way.