The Baltimore Ravens are already dealing with a few too many injuries for comfort ahead of Week 2. As they prepare to welcome the New Orleans Saints to M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, their final injury report on Friday was flooded with not just contributors, but key contributors.
Game status vs. Saints pic.twitter.com/oC7p9MSG4X
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 18, 2026
Nnamdi Madubuike and Teddye Buchanan will need at least one more week to fully recover from their season-ending 2025 injuries. This week's picture really isn’t about them, though. It's about Zay Flowers, Trey Hendrickson, John Simpson, and Ronnie Stanley.
That’s four important starters who logged no more than one limited practice appearance this past week. The question marks are real entering Week 2.
Sure, the Ravens appear to have the upper hand over the Saints, but can they overcome these injuries?
Baltimore Ravens dealing with several notable injuries ahead of Week 2
When it comes to Zay Flowers, Trey Hendrickson, John Simpson, and Ronnie Stanley, if any of them can’t play on Sunday, it’d be a major blow. That goes without saying since they’re starters, but their potential inactivity would cast a dark cloud over some already doubt-filled position groups.
Wide receiver is almost certainly going to take a significant hit at least for one week. The Ravens already placed Ja’Kobi Lane on IR with a fractured wrist, and Flowers is doubtful with a hamstring problem.
It’d be wise to keep Flowers on the sidelines for this one. It’s been an issue the two-time Pro Bowler has been dealing with since training camp—you don’t want to risk re-aggravating your star WR1’s injury. It’s also expected to rain on Sunday…if you’re listening, Jesse Minter, don’t let Flowers suit up in Week 2.
Now here’s the biggest issue for Baltimore: offensive line. Their pass protection was extremely sloppy in the season opener, and they may be without Ronnie Stanley and John Simpson against the Saints. That’s two important veteran pieces to a new-look offensive line.
Stanley has a toe injury, and Simpson has a groin injury. Those injuries aren’t something offensive linemen can easily overcome either.
The veterans could just be getting the rest they need to be close to 100% in Week 2. Practice is important, but not so much for seasoned veterans like Stanley and Simpson. In a perfect world, the Ravens are prioritizing rest over on-field preparation with two stable starters.
We just don’t know what to expect right now, though. And if they can't go, you're looking at tackle Carson Vinson and guard Andrew Vorhees (or Emery Jones Jr.) blocking in front of Lamar Jackson. Not good at all.
Then there’s the most impactful player in Hendrickson. The $112 million man spearheaded a dominant performance from the Ravens pass rush last week, putting Daniel Jones in a blender on a down-to-down basis. It was a far cry from where the defense was at last year. Simply put, the Ravens desperately need Hendrickson.
Like Stanley and Simpson, Hendrickson is questionable, too. Thankfully, it’s only a finger injury, although we don’t know how serious it is. Ideally, this is another case of veteran rest, and even if he isn’t fully ready for the home opener, taping that sucker up and going to war in the trenches seems like an option.
I mean, we’ve seen defenders take the field with heavily wrapped-up, clubbed hands to protect broken bones before.
Overall, it’s a slightly concerning sight for the Ravens this week. You never want to see your team banged up, especially not this early in the season. They may be catching the bad injury luck at the right time, though. And in all honesty, Simpson, Stanley, and Hendrickson could find themselves starting.
We’ll see what happens on Sunday.
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