At 6-6, the Baltimore Ravens control their own destiny in 2025. Still, it has been a bumpy road, and there are undoubtedly several hurdles they will have to overcome to make the playoffs. The light part of their schedule is over, and they will play numerous AFC North rivals and playoff contenders down the stretch.
Safe to say, the Ravens are going to need some help if they want to successfully turn their season around. A five-game winning streak put them back in contention for the AFC North crown, but a Thanksgiving loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13 showcased the fatal flaws that continue to haunt Baltimore deep into the season. While the most significant part of the issue right now is the offense, the defense could use some more star power ahead of a crucial month.
It sounds like Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr’s unit could be getting exactly that in the near future. In his press conference on Monday, Head Coach John Harbaugh offered encouraging updates on two key defenders: outside linebacker Tavius Robinson and safety Ar’Darius Washington.
“There’s a chance we get [Robinson and Washington] back in practice this week,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll see Wednesday. There’s a good chance, actually.”
The two defenders have been dealt a brutal hand in 2025. Washington tore his Achilles tendon before the season started, and Robinson broke his foot in the team’s Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Evidently, though, both are making incredible progress in their recoveries and could be back in pads sooner rather than later.
Ravens get promising updates on Tavius Robinson and Ar’Darius Washington
Robinson and Washington were both back at practice on Wednesday as hoped. Robinson will not play on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but Washington has yet to be ruled out.
John Harbaugh said the Ravens don’t expect Tavius Robinson to play Sunday.
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) December 3, 2025
Ar’Darius Washington, surprisingly, could possibly play vs. Pittsburgh, though Harbaugh said it’s not a “probability.” pic.twitter.com/z0v877kPST
While the defensive turnaround was ignited when each of the two was recovering from injury, the impact they have made in the past couple of years is undeniable.
Robinson brings a balanced force to the Ravens’ defensive front. His sack numbers have never been gaudy, as he posted 3.5 sacks in 2024 and had two this year before going down with an injury. However, he is a reliable rotational option as a pass rusher and is crucial to stopping the run. Robinson sets a firm edge, allowing defensive tackles Travis Jones and John Jenkins to feast on the interior.
As for Washington, he has obviously yet to step onto the field in 2025, but his play in 2024 made him a fan favorite. After going through similar defensive struggles at the start of last year’s campaign, Baltimore inserted Washington into the lineup next to safety Kyle Hamilton. They took off from there and instantly became one of the better defenses in the NFL late in the season. While the team has already made that fix, with safety Alohi Gilman playing a big role, Washington’s versatility between safety and slot corner, as well as his special teams ability, should bring significant improvements.
The coaching staff should take their time getting Robinson and Washington ready for game action, but with the AFC North a dead heat, their soon arrivals could pay dividends for a desperate team.