The Baltimore Ravens are about to embark on a daunting stretch in the season. At 1-2 and getting ready to face the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach John Harbaugh now has a whole new set of issues. Injuries to key defensive components are piling up, potentially spoiling a season for the Ravens.

The Baltimore Ravens will be without their two key players when they face the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike has been declared out with a neck injury.

“I would say I am concerned about it,” said Harbaugh when asked if it is a long-term injury. “But I’m not really in a position to comment on it right now. I haven’t been given the OK to comment on it at this point.” Madubuike did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, and neither did Kyle Van Noy, who sustained a hamstring injury in Week 2.

Madubuike initially began experiencing symptoms following Baltimore’s Week 2 victory against the Cleveland Browns and was tested more extensively last week. The Ravens were not quite sure when the injury happened during the contest, and still have not placed a timeline on his return. “So, he’s not going to play this week, I can tell you that,” Harbaugh stated. “And we’re going to have to see going forward when they know what they need to know.”

Making matters worse, defensive tackles Travis Jones (knee) and Broderick Washington Jr. (ankle) didn’t practice on Wednesday. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley also joined them by not practicing. Veteran  John Jenkins and rookie Aeneas Peebles were the only defensive linemen on the 53-man roster who practiced.

First-year sixth-rounder Aeneas Peebles received more snaps in Madubuike’s place but couldn’t leave a meaningful mark. Though there was hope for his inside pass rush, Peebles’ snap share decreased from Week 2 to Week 3 — from 30 percent in Cleveland to a mere 21 percent against Detroit. Only two of them were on run plays, and he ended up with zero pass rush.

This lack of production shows the void left by Madubuike’s absence. Since 2023 season, Madubuike has led all NFL defensive tackles with 21.5 sacks, making him the Ravens’ most disruptive interior force. Without him, Baltimore allowed 207 rushing yards between the tackles and failed to record a sack for the first time in four years.

Nnamdi Madubuike’s absence vs Lions

The impact of Madubuike and Van Noy’s absences was clear in Monday night’s 38-30 loss to the Detroit Lions. Detroit rushed for 224 yards — the third-most any club has accumulated against Baltimore during the Harbaugh era and pinned up 98- and 96-yard scoring runs that chewed the clock.

Harbaugh himself wasn’t shy in his postgame evaluation. “There’s nobody in that locker room that thinks that’s good enough,” he stated.

The defensive breakdowns were augmented by a weak pass rush. Baltimore did not sack Jared Goff, and Detroit sacked Lamar Jackson seven times. “We sent some number five-man rushes. We had a couple of six-man rushes,” Harbaugh said. “We have to get a better pass rush. There’s no doubt about it.’’

Even with those difficulties, the Ravens’ players would not resort to injuries as an excuse. “Shame on us if we need a Pro Bowl guy to play good defense,” said safety Kyle Hamilton. “I think we have a plethora of guys who have accolades, but there are teams in the league that don’t have that and play good defense.”

Cornerback Marlon Humphrey seconded Hamilton’s frustration, saying, “They just simply executed better than us, and we never got them off schedule. … We’re just not very good.”

Now facing the Chiefs, the Ravens need to recharge in a hurry. They are attempting to fend off their first 1-3 start in a decade. The staff is hoping Jenkins and Peebles can man the barricades in Madubuike’s absence, but without their Pro Bowl anchor and experienced linebacker, Baltimore’s room for error has narrowed significantly.

Whether the Ravens are able to reverse their defensive struggles in the absence of their two key players, will determine their course in the early season.