To say the Baltimore Ravens' season has been disappointing would be an understatement. The Ravens entered the year with Super Bowl aspirations but are off to an abysmal 1-5 start. Defense has been a massive problem for the Ravens all season long. Baltimore is giving up 380 yards per game, which ranks 30th in the league, and they have given up the most points per game (32.7). While the defense has largely underperformed, injuries have undoubtedly been a factor.
Luckily, two key contributors, linebacker Roquan Smith and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, returned to the practice field on Monday. Both starters had been sidelined with hamstring injuries during the two weeks leading up to the Ravens' bye week.
Roquan Smith (hamstring), Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring) and Ronnie Stanley (ankle) were all practicing. So was FB Patrick Ricard (calf). https://t.co/cJ8pqdcWge
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) October 20, 2025
Since both players have already returned to practice, it's fair to expect they'll be back on the field for the Ravens' Week 8 showdown with the Chicago Bears. In fact, Smith said that he believes he’ll play Sunday.
Without a doubt this would be a massive boost to the Ravens' defense, and things finally seem to be trending upward for Baltimore.
The impact of Smith and Awuzie returning
Smith hasn't been stellar in the four games he's played in. Notably, he has posted a career-high 10.5 missed tackle percentage, with a 65.1 PFF grade. However, Smith is one of the best linebackers in the league and has long been a key piece of this defense. After trading Odafe Oweh and Tavius Robinson's injury, Smith's presence will be even more vital.
If the Ravens' defense can right the ship, expect Smith to play a big role. He was named to first-team All-Pro just last season and still has plenty of juice left in the tank. Coming back to play against his former team for the first time since being traded to Baltimore in 2022 might give Smith some extra motivation. Smith did downplay this narrative about going against his former team. Still, expect the eight-year veteran to be on his A-game Sunday.
Roquan Smith said he’s excited to face his old team and he appreciates his time in Chicago. But he downplayed the former team angle.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) October 20, 2025
“It’s about me doing my job to the best of my ability.”
Overall, getting Smith back in the mix should give the Ravens a much-needed boost.
Awuzie was brought in as a free agent this spring to bolster a Ravens' secondary that struggled last season. While the Ravens' secondary has still struggled, Awuzie has been solid in the games he's played in. Impressively, Awuzie has given up just 5.9 yards per target, a number that is second among Ravens' starters in the secondary (Nate Wiggins is first). Additionally, he has posted a solid 71.8 PFF grade.
After trading for Alohi Gilman and moving Kyle Hamilton around the field, Baltimore's secondary showed some encouraging signs against the Los Angeles Rams. Ultimately the Ravens' secondary could end up being the strength of their defense, and getting Awuzie back could be a big part of it.