Nnamdi Madubuike one of 6 players placed on PUP list ahead of Ravens camp

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Defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike’s long-awaited return will have to wait a little longer.

The Ravens placed the Pro Bowler on the physically-unable-to-perform list more than 10 months after he suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 2 of 2025.

He was one of six players put on the PUP list Saturday, the team announced, joining defensive linemen John Jenkins and Travis Jones, inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan, outside linebacker Adisa Isaac and cornerback Bilhal Kone.

Madubuike had been looking forward to a season marked by stats and sacks. Instead, it was filled with mysterious social posts and vague updates.

Drafted in 2020, Madubuike had a breakout season in 2023 when he recorded 13 sacks, the most by an interior defensive lineman in the the NFL. He was named a Pro Bowler and rewarded with a four-year, $98 million contract extension from the Ravens.

A known quantity in 2024, Madubuike drew extra attention from offensive lines and was held to 6.5 sacks. However, while his stats went down, his significance came in the openings he provided teammates.

Even knowing that, Madubuike was determined to increase his production in 2025.

“It freed up a bunch of guys and it was frustrating at times, but I made an emphasis this offseason to find ways to split [the double teams], get stronger in the weight room and stuff like that,” Madubuike said ahead of training camp last year. “And [I] even [wanted to] add a little bit more weight, because I know they’re going to be sliding. It’s a good thing and I appreciate it, but I definitely want to keep being productive and being the player that I know I can be.”

Madubuike opened the season with two sacks in two games. But he suffered a neck injury in the second game, a win over the Cleveland Browns.

The Ravens ruled him out for Week 3. Nine days later, they ruled him out for the season.

At the time, then-head coach John Harbaugh declined to provide details on the diagnosis, saying he’d leave that to Madubuike.

That line has lasted from one league year to the next and from one coaching staff to the next.

Over the past 10 months, Harbaugh and then new head coach Jesse Minter, along with general manager Eric DeCosta, have declined to provide details with their updates. And most updates were that they had no new details to share.

Meanwhile, Madubuike remained mum in person but shared posts to Instagram that stirred speculation. He wrote “Celebrate your journey” in December with a crystal ball.

When the Ravens returned for their offseason training program, strength and conditioning director Scott Elliott shared that Madubuike was working hard, but he couldn’t comment on his medical status. On social media, a video of Madubuike training backed up Elliott’s words.

Finally, in April, a significant update came when ESPN reported Madubuike underwent successful neck surgery and was expected to return. In May Minter said Madubuike was trending in a great direction, and in June he said the Ravens felt good about his status.

Madubuike has not addressed his injury publicly. He held a camp in Baltimore, but media members were turned away from interacting with him.

If Madubuike returns, he will be the third-highest-paid player on the team in 2026. If he doesn’t play, well, the Ravens still owe him $48,616,177 in guaranteed money over the next two seasons.