Injuries taking toll on Ravens ahead of week four matchup against Kansas City Chiefs

Coming off a Monday Night Football loss against the Detroit Lions, the Baltimore Ravens face significant challenges as they prepare for their upcoming game against the Kansas City Chiefs. After beginning the season with a record of 1-2, the team aims to rebound to .500, but injuries within the roster are posing serious concerns.

The deficit in their defensive line was evident during Monday night’s contest. Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike and outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy were both sidelined due to injuries, resulting in decreased pressure on the Lions' quarterback Jared Goff. The team's defensive front struggled to generate the pass rush needed to impact the game.

On the offensive side, Baltimore surrendered seven sacks to Detroit, tying a career high for quarterback Lamar Jackson. Coach John Harbaugh expressed concern about Madubuike’s injury but refrained from providing specific details, saying, "I haven't been given the OK to comment on it at this point. So, Nnamdi Madubuike is not going to play this week. We will see how things develop as the medical staff assesses his condition."

Meanwhile, outside linebacker Odafe Oweh and rookie defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles emphasized the team's resilience, adopting an "next man up" mentality. Oweh stated, "We have to find ways to get that cohesiveness as a group because a lot of new and younger players are stepping in. We’re working to get that chemistry quickly." Peebles added, "It’s unusual not seeing familiar faces, but that’s part of the game. When called upon, we have to be ready."

In practice, the entire starting interior defensive line was absent, with defensive tackles Broderick Washington Jr. and Travis Jones also missing the sessions. To bolster their defensive line, the Ravens signed defensive tackles Taven Bryan and Josh Topou to their practice squad. Coach Harbaugh downplayed the absence, indicating that he is optimistic about Washington and Jones’s availability, "They're nursing some things. We’re less than 48 hours from the game, so I have a good feeling about those guys. We’ll see how they respond."

Other injuries include fullback Patrick Ricard, who missed practice due to a calf injury, and offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, who was sidelined with an ankle injury. On the positive side, tight end Isaiah Likely returned to practice in a limited capacity, raising hopes for his participation this week.

The Ravens will need to be at their best defensively to contain quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who just led the Chiefs to a victory in Sunday Night Football against the New York Giants. Mahomes aims to avoid a rare 1-3 start in his career. Coach Harbaugh commented on defending Mahomes, "It's the same challenges—he makes incredible plays. Their offense is built around him, and he operates it exceptionally well. We’ll have to find a smarter way to pressure him without giving up big creases."

Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh added, "Mahomes can make plays just as well on the run as he can in the pocket. We need to pressurize effectively while avoiding gaps for him to exploit. It’s a balance we have to strike." The game is scheduled to kick off at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.