The Baltimore Ravens need Nnamdi Madubuike back soon. Their interior defensive line isn’t the same without him—that much was obvious in Week 2. Thankfully, the two-time Pro Bowler was a full participant in practice on Wednesday.
Since Week 1, Madubuike has been a limited participant. He’s been ramping up since training camp, and now he’s taken a huge step, logging his first full participation since suffering a neck injury back in Week 2 of 2025.
As the Ravens inch closer to a battle of high-powered offenses in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys, there’s a realistic chance they could get their best interior disruptor back in Madubuike.
After what the defense did last week, this might come at the perfect time.
Baltimore Ravens may have Nnamdi Madubuike back in time for Cowboys week
If you watched Baltimore’s loss to the New Orleans Saints, you’d know the fourth-quarter collapse mainly fell on the defense’s shoulders. However, while safeties Malaki Starks and Jaylinn Hawkins were among the most critiqued players, the pass rush’s quiet play down the stretch certainly factored into that.
You could nail down the problem to three things: struggles to contain Tyler Shough, inconsistency wrapping up, and, of course, not generating enough pressure. Enter the solution. Nnamdi Madubuike.
30 career sacks, 42 tackles for loss, close to a 10% pressure rate over the last two seasons, two Pro Bowls, one All-Pro team - Madubuike is that guy. He’s an elite pass rusher from the interior, and that’s exactly what the Ravens will need on Sunday.
The Cowboys’ passing attack is lethal. They were second in passing yards per game last year, and still possess a difficult-to-contain group between the trio of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens.
Lamb and Pickens are going to get their production. They’re just that talented, and if Prescott chucks up a prayer, there’s a high chance one of them will come down with it. So while yeah, the secondary will have to turn things around, it may actually be Baltimore’s pass rush that must be the game-changer.
You can’t give Dak Prescott too much time. He will find Lamb, Pickens, or even tight end Jake Ferguson if you do.
And the interior pressure could be most important. Trey Hendrickson and Mike Green aren’t going to make their presence felt if Prescott can easily climb the pocket. That’s how it went down versus the Saints.
Travis Jones can be trusted to hold up his end of the bargain. He continues to grow into a talented pass rusher, leading the team with 5 sacks in 2025. Madubuike takes things to another level, though.
Combine those two forces, and there shouldn’t be much room for Prescott and Dallas’ offense to operate. They can be a game-wrecking duo.
This isn’t necessarily a guarantee that Madubuike will play. He hasn’t played an organized snap in over a year, after all, and neck injuries are something any coaching staff will be extra careful with. He could need more than one full week of practice before taking the field again.
It’s also fair to wonder if Madubuike will be firing on all cylinders in his 2026 debut. In all honesty, he probably won’t.
Regardless, this is a very encouraging sign. Jesse Minter mentioned earlier in September that he doesn’t believe Madubuike will miss the first four weeks. If that’s a sign of anything, we could be knocking on the door to his long-awaited return.
Madubuike’s potential presence alone could be exactly what this defense needs. They’re facing adversity, and getting a star defensive lineman back would help them bounce back with authority.
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