Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike has been ruled out for Monday’s game against the Detroit Lions with a neck injury, coach John Harbaugh announced after Saturday’s practice. Madubuike joins star pass rusher Kyle Van Noy as a critical defender who’ll be out for Monday night and potentially longer. The standard of durability for the Ravens, Madubuike hasn’t missed a game due to injury since his rookie season in 2020, and missing Monday night will end a streak of 55 straight games played for defensive tackle.
A two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman, Madubuike has recorded 21.5 sacks in 36 games since the start of the 2023 season. Van Noy hasn’t practiced all week with a hamstring injury and could leave the two-star defenders out for a brutal four-game stretch that includes matchups against the Lions (Sunday), Chiefs (Week 4), Texans (Week 5), and Rams (Week 6) before the Week 7 bye.
When asked about Madubuike on Saturday afternoon, head coach John Harbaugh had this to say.
“They’re dealing with the symptoms and they’re testing right now,” Harbaugh said. “So he will be ruled out for this game and they’re trying to get to the bottom of it.”
Harbaugh said he couldn’t share many details on the injury, and the team is unsure when it occurred during Sunday’s 41-17 win over the Cleveland Browns. The Ravens are determining the next course of action with Madubuike, who didn’t practice all week.
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Rookie sixth-round pick Aeneas Peebles has shone in limited action and is expected to see increased playing time in Madubuike’s absence. Peebles has one tackle in two games this season, but has drawn praise from PFF.
If Van Noy misses extended action, rookie second-round pick Mike Green will see significant snaps, while David Ojabo could be active after two weeks as a healthy scratch.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens could be without top 2 defenders for brutal four-game stretch