Ravens star Nnamdi Madubuike moves closer to 2026 debut; Zay Flowers misses practice

Join the huddle. Sign up here for Ravens updates in your inbox.

Ravens defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike took another step in his comeback from a serious 2025 neck injury, fully participating in Wednesday’s practice for the first time this season.

Madubuike, who underwent surgery during the offseason to address a season-ending neck injury he suffered in a game last September, said before Week 1 that he had “no doubt” he would be back this year. But he was inactive for the Ravens’ first two games after being limited in practice.

Coach Jesse Minter said Monday that Madubuike and other injured players were on a “positive trajectory” ahead of Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro. Earlier, he’d said Madubuike was “really, really close” to being ready.

“He’s going to be ready to roll here soon,” Minter said Sept. 11. “He’s in a really good place, and just love where he’s at.”

Madubuike, 28, was cleared for the start of training camp in late July and participated in every Ravens practice. But his ramp-up was deliberate. Madubuike was limited to individual work with athletic trainers and coaches before progressing to positional drills. He didn’t play in the preseason or participate during team drills in camp.

Madubuike’s neck injury was initially feared to be career threatening. Before Week 1, he called his past year “grueling” and “definitely one of the hardest points of my life” but said he was grateful to be back playing.

“I feel [like], the more I think about it, the closer it gets,” he said of returning to action. “So I am thinking about it a lot right now. But right now I am just in a great place, I am doing the little things right and I am just taking one day at a time. I am feeling good, and I am just happy to be back on the field.”

Madubuike, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, had two sacks and seven quarterback pressures in two games last season, according to Pro Football focus. He could boost a Ravens pass rush that needs another interior presence. Travis Jones has three pressures through two weeks, while fellow defensive lineman Calais Campbell has none.

Madubuike might not be the only Ravens contributor to make his season debut Sunday. Inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in December, also practiced fully Wednesday for the first time this season. Buchanan started 13 games as a rookie last year and could contribute on both special teams and defense, though Trenton Simpson has played well in two starts next to Roquan Smith.

“I don’t think [Simpson] has done anything to say we need to take this guy off the field, but also you are getting a really good player back, hopefully, in Teddye,” Minter said Monday. “So we will have to ... make sure we have our best guys on the field for any given situation.”

Four Ravens starters missed practice Wednesday: Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (toe), outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson (finger) and Campbell (rest). Flowers, who missed Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints, remains “day-to-day,” Minter said after practice.

Starting left guard John Simpson (groin) and starting safety Malaki Starks (hamstring) were limited, along with wide receiver Chris Moore (ankle) and rookie outside linebacker Zion Young (quadricep).