OWINGS MILLS, Md. — A new batch of practice absences stemmed from the preseason opener, but the Ravens were able to welcome back their starting cornerbacks on Monday.
Less than a week after Nate Wiggins was carted off the field with a leg injury and Marlon Humphrey left practice with an undisclosed ailment, the two took part in the final full practice before Baltimore was set to travel to Minnesota for a pair of joint practices as well as Saturday’s preseason game. It was certainly a sigh of relief with the Sept. 13 opener now less than a month away.
While Wiggins was injured going up against rookie wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane in a 1-on-1 drill last Tuesday, it wasn’t clear what prompted Humphrey to leave the field with a trainer last Wednesday. However, head coach Jesse Minter indicated late last week that both had a chance to return in time for some of the most prominent veteran work of the summer against the Vikings.
“Sometimes those things happen. You pray for the best and hope for the best, and both those guys [were] able to bounce back,” Minter said. “It’s a credit to them again that they were able to just overcome some small little things. They’re back out there ready to roll.”
Minter confirmed most starters and established veterans would again sit out the second preseason game.
After being activated from the physically unable to perform list last Friday, second-year inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan took part in his first practice of the summer, which came roughly eight months after his rookie season came to a premature end with a torn ACL last December. To no surprise, Buchanan was a very limited participant and mostly worked on a side field.
“It’s always great when you get a guy back, particularly just like the amount of work you’ve seen Teddye put in,” Minter said. “Honestly, since the first time I walked in this building, I think he was in here rehabbing [and] might have been one of the first guys I saw. He’s just been a constant presence here. He’s put in the time and the work. For a late-season injury, to be where he’s at now is a major credit to him and his mindset, his work ethic.”
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Now three weeks into training camp, two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike continues a very slow ramp-up that’s mostly consisted of individual work with defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and director of strength and conditioning Scott Elliott on a side field. Having missed most of the 2025 season with a career-threatening neck injury suffered in Week 2, Madubuike has done a small amount of positional group work and hasn’t had any forcible contact — at least in practices open to reporters.
With Week 1 less than four weeks away, it’s fair to say Madubuike still has some significant boxes to check to be ready to play against Indianapolis.
“I think that’s both sides really putting their heads together and making sure that we’re doing it at a rate that everybody feels good and confident in,” said Minter about Madubuike’s very deliberate progression. “I would say — ballpark — next couple weeks, he’ll be starting to work himself back in there.”
Seven players were missing from Monday’s practice, a list headlined by running back Rasheen Ali, inside linebacker Jay Higgins (concussion), and defensive tackle C.J. Okoye. Sidelined over the last week, Ali is dealing with an unspecified injury with Minter indicating that the Ravens will “let that timeline shake out as it shakes out.”
Other players missing Monday’s practice included cornerback Robert Longerbeam, linebacker Carl Jones, cornerback Amani Oruwariye, and safety Jahquez Robinson.
