Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely is on track to make his 2025 season debut after missing the first three weeks with a foot injury, per Ian Rapoport. Both teams are sitting at 1-2, and the desperation to secure a win is higher than ever. At a time like this, Isaiah Likely’s presence could be a game-changer for the Ravens. Last season, he hauled in 42 passes for 477 yards and six touchdowns, even in the presence of tight end Mark Andrews on the roster. That shows how valuable he is to Baltimore’s offense.

But after undergoing surgery on a broken bone in his foot this summer, Likely hasn’t been able to show up for the team. But heading into Week 4, he was listed as probable on the Ravens’ injury report, and now, Rapoport’s latest update only fuels optimism about his return.

And, the team wants to make sure he’s fully comfortable before taking the field. But sources hint the plan is for Likely to suit up this week.

If he does, Baltimore’s offense will get a major boost at the perfect time, as they look to bounce back and get their season back on track. While he might be “look(ing) good” as Head Coach John Harbaugh shared, both the player and the team are cautious about his injury. He know that this isn’t a good idea to aggravate his injury.

While Likely admitted that he’s eager to get back on the field, he also added that rushing won’t make a big difference in the long run, whether his return comes in Week 3 or Week 4.

“You always want to look at the long game,” Likely said  (as on the team’s website). “In this league, it’s a turtle’s race. Understand that January’s so far away. We just put up 40-plus points back-to-back. The offense is well capable to be themselves whether I’m on or off the field. They’re not rushing me back. Me limited isn’t helping anybody. You guys want to see me be me.”

However, if he is unable to show up for the game, the team will have to rely on Andrews.

However, as for the Ravens’ offense, offensive coordinator Todd Monken appeared confident. “We have everything we need to be an elite offense,” Monken said. One instance is running back Derrick Henry’s fumbles in each of Baltimore’s first three games. But Monken isn’t worried about it and is counting on Henry to bounce back soon.

That might be the story of offense, but things don’t look good on defense.

The Ravens’ defense takes another scary hit

The Ravens’ already struggling defensive line, which ranked last in the NFL for the first time since 2021, took another hit. Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike has reportedly been placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the next four games. While Coach Harbaugh admitted he’s concerned about the severity of Madubuike’s neck injury, he couldn’t provide a clear timeline for his return.

The worst news for the team is that Madubuike won’t be available for the upcoming game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Well, the Ravens didn’t look sharp in their last game against the Detroit Lions, giving up 207 rushing yards between the tackles, the most the team has allowed since ESPN started tracking the stat in 2006. On top of that, there were no sacks in that game, despite Madubuike recording 21.5 sacks since 2023.

Adding to the team’s woes, starting defensive end Broderick Washington is also on injured reserve with an ankle injury, and defensive tackle Chris Jones is on the injured reserve for a personal reason. With both Madubuike and Washington out, the Ravens are missing key pieces on their defensive front.

All eyes will be on how the Ravens navigate this stormy stretch, as the team tries to hold its ground with significant gaps in its defense.