It remains to be seen whether two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike or inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan are ready to go for Week 1, but the Ravens elected to keep both on their initial 53-man roster set Sunday evening.
Neither has taken part in full-team reps as the calendar is about to turn to September, but both continue ramping up in hopes of being ready to play sooner than later. Head coach Jesse Minter was noncommittal when asked last week if Madubuike — who hasn’t taken part in any live contact since suffering a career-threatening neck injury in Week 2 of last season — still had sufficient time to be ready for the Sept. 13 opener in Indianapolis, but placing him on injured reserve would have immediately taken him out of practice and guaranteed a minimum four-game absence. The Ravens can now continue evaluating the respective practice ramp-ups for both Madubuike and Buchanan for two more weeks and would still have the option to place either on IR with a designation to return as late as Sept. 12 without being any worse for wear in terms of games missed.
Baltimore did use its initial designations to return from IR on second-year cornerback Bilhal Kone and fifth-round rookie running back Adam Randall.
The Ravens are also set to continue a streak of having at least one undrafted rookie on their Week 1 roster for the 22nd time in 23 years after keeping quarterback Joe Fagnano and outside linebacker Ethan Burke, who were two of the good stories of the preseason. Fagnano’s rise was particularly surprising as he went from barely receiving any practice reps behind veteran quarterback Skylar Thompson over the first two weeks of training camp to leading the NFL in passing yards (509) this preseason. The former Connecticut standout will likely serve as the emergency No. 3 quarterback behind two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson and veteran backup Tyler Huntley.
“It started with that first preseason game, really, where he got the first real run,” said Minter about Fagnano after Friday’s preseason finale. “Maybe one or two other practices right before that, but to his credit, he’s put it on tape, and he has put it out there. He’s been really consistent. He has played a certain way almost all three games, and so that is definitely something we will have to take a look at.”
Burke beat out 2024 third-round pick Adisa Isaac — who was waived after two injured-plagued seasons — for the No. 5 outside linebacker spot after standing out on both defense and special teams over three preseason games.
Other notable cuts included safety K’Von Wallace, wide receiver Chris Moore, interior offensive lineman Corey Bullock, 2025 sixth-round cornerback Robert Longerbeam, and a pair of 2026 seventh-round picks: defensive lineman Rayshaun Benny and guard Evan Beerntsen.
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General manager Eric DeCosta also made a pair of trades on Saturday. Nose tackle C.J. Okoye was dealt to old friend John Harbaugh and the New York Giants in exchange for a 2028 seventh-round pick, and undrafted rookie offensive tackle Diego Pounds was moved to Kansas City for a conditional 2028 sixth-round pick.
As is frequently the case, the Ravens kept 25 offensive players, 25 defensive players, and three specialists — including maligned kicker Tyler Loop — on their initial 53-man roster.
Below is the full list of transactions made by the Ravens on Sunday evening:
WAIVED
ILB Michael Barrett
G Evan Beerntsen
DL Rayshaun Benny
WR Cortez Braham Jr.
OL Corey Bullock
C Nick Dawkins
ILB Dominic DeLuca
DL Aaron Graves
WR Xavier Guillory
OLB Adisa Isaac
WR Cornelius Johnson
ILB Jamon Johnson
LB Carl Jones
OT Gerad Lichtenhan
CB Robert Longerbeam
RB Dontae McMillan
DL David Olajiga
TE Ty Pezza
QB Austin Reed
CB Marquise Robinson
OLB Kaimon Rucker
FB Lucas Scott
WR Octavian Smith Jr.
RB Elijah Tau-Tolliver
WR Dayton Wade
S Silas Walters
CB Lardarius Webb Jr.
DL Dion Wilson Jr.
RELEASED
WR Chris Moore
CB Amani Oruwariye
OT David Sharpe
S K’Von Wallace
RB Jonathan Ward
PLACED ON INJURED RESERVE
CB Bilhal Kone (designated to return)
RB Adam Randall (designated to return)
