Madubuike Clears to Practice, Closing the Biggest Hole on Baltimore's Defense

Three days ago I wrote that Madubuike on the PUP list had ended any near-term optimism about his return. Wednesday changed that. The two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle practiced for the first time in 10 months and has been cleared to return from a neck injury that, at various points this offseason, looked like it might end his career.

The timing matters for a specific reason. John Jenkins, Baltimore's starter at defensive tackle, is 37 years old and currently listed as out. Behind him, before Madubuike's return, the interior was thin enough to be a genuine liability heading into camp. Madubuike stepping back onto the field doesn't erase that concern entirely, but it restores the depth chart to something functional — a credible backup behind an aging starter rather than a vacancy.

Worth noting: the Ravens still have real problems elsewhere on this roster that one healthy player can't fix. The linebacker depth behind Roquan Smith is essentially nonexistent, and Smith himself is on an expiring contract. The wide receiver room is thin by count and thin by production. Those are the offseason questions that remain open. But the defensive tackle situation was the most acute injury-driven hole, and Wednesday closed it.