The worst defense in the NFL this season isn’t about to improve. That’s because the Baltimore Ravens’ two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, Nnamdi Madubuike, will remain on the sidelines for Week 4.
The 27-year-old Madubuike’s neck is the issue, as it started bothering him after the team’s Week 2 win over the Cleveland Browns. He hasn’t taken the field since.
“I would say I am concerned about it,” Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh admitted on Wednesday when asked about the injury. “But I’m not really in a position to comment on it right now. I haven’t been given the OK to comment on it at this point.” (which sounds ominous to me)
The Ravens defense is NEVER the worst in the league – they haven’t been dead last in the league since Week 16 in 2021. But without Madubuike’s presence on the line, not to mention his defensive-lineman-best 21.5 sacks since 2023, the team’s defense is being ravaged on the ground by their opponents.
“Obviously, he’s a guy that we need and is dominant,” outside linebacker Odafe Oweh said about his teammate’s absence. “I feel bad, but it’s the next man up mentality. We’d be doing him a disservice if we were out here not playing hard.”
To make matters worse, Baltimore nose tackle Travis Jones and defensive tackle Broderick Washington Jr are also banged up and didn’t practice on Wednesday.
Degenerate Spin: If you have the Ravens defense on your fantasy team, get rid of it, quickly. As for gambling, the 1-2 Ravens visit the 1-2 Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, and the visitors are a 2.5-point favorite. Despite the injuries, Baltimore is my play at that spread – my line is Baltimore -4.5.
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