The Baltimore Ravens crushed the Cleveland Browns 41-17, but lost veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy to injury. In response, head coach John Harbaugh turned to a younger option already waiting in the wings.

On Monday, following game, Harbaugh didn’t offer a timeline for the injured linebacker’s return. He seemed more focused on what’s next than on who’s missing. When pressed on whether the first-year Mike Green might replace Van Noy, Harbaugh smiled and said the young defender “took another step” forward.

“I am happy with the way Mike’s playing. Mike’s playing good football for us and he just has to keep growing as a player,” Harbaugh said. It was the strongest indication that the Baltimore’s head coach is quietly letting go of Van Noy, at least for now.

The star linebacker suffered a hamstring injury in the second quarter when he pulled up on a pass-rush snap and sent a signal to the sideline. The 34-year-old went off the field and did not come back. Just when the Ravens were adjusting to Van Noy’s absence, another blow hit the defense. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey sustained a groin injury late in the fourth quarter after playing 51 snaps and recording three tackles.

Both injuries shifted the tone of the game and tested the Ravens’ depth, but they still managed to shut down Cleveland’s offense and force key turnovers. The hosts sealed the win with a dominant fourth quarter, scoring three touchdowns, including a 63-yard fumble return by Roquan Smith.

Van Noy’s limited snaps still made an impact, but with his absence, Harbaugh seems intent on accelerating rookie’s development. And why wouldn’t he?

In August 2025, during the Baltimore Ravens’ preseason, Mike Green delivered two standout performances. Ravens journalist Kevin Oestreicher could on hold back as he praised Green as a “beast,” on X. He also shared Green’s stat line from those two preseason games: “30 pass rushing snaps – 5 pressures – 16.7% pressure rate – 30.0% pass-rush win rate – 86.4 pass rush grade.”

The 22-year-old also made his regular-season debut in Week 1 against Buffalo, contributing one solo tackle in limited action. His Week 2 outing against Cleveland was solid, showing continued progress in a depleted edge rotation.

The instant test of Van Noy’s absence

Losing a player like Van Noy is a gut punch for any team, and for the Ravens, it’s a test of their ‘next man up’ mantra. Rookie Mike Green, a second-round pick, stepped in Sunday and showed promise over 45 snaps, flashing range, solid tackling, and bursts off the edge. Still, a full-time role will demand more consistency.

Green himself sounded optimistic and assured when questioned about the challenge: “Hopefully [Van Noy’s] fine and he’s good and comes back fast,” he replied. “I feel like I’m prepared enough… I think I’m ready. I can compete at this level.” That sort of confidence carries weight, but so does production.

The Ravens’ defense has shown vulnerabilities, ranking close to the league bottom through two games in yards. Without their best pass rusher, it becomes much more difficult to generate pressure on other quarterbacks.

The Ravens will host the Detroit Lions in Week 3, a game that will challenge every bit of their depth chart. The Lions’ offense is fresh off a 52-point outburst against the Chicago Bears, and quarterback Jared Goff has demonstrated composure in taking advantage of defensive mistakes.

In addition to tactical woes, Van Noy’s loss leaves an emotional deficit. His leadership and swagger shaped the Ravens’ defensive identity, and replacing that is tougher than filling a roster spot. Whether Harbaugh’s quiet move to elevate rookie Mike Green can sustain Baltimore’s Super Bowl push remains to be seen.