Nnamdi Madubuike returns as the Ravens' top-graded player
A year after a neck injury that threatened his career, the Nigerian-American defensive lineman starred in Baltimore's last-second win in Rio de Janeiro.
By SitesNG Sports Desk · · 2 min read
Nnamdi Madubuike is back. Playing his first NFL game in more than a year, the Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle was the team's highest-graded player as they beat the Dallas Cowboys 34-31 at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday 27 September 2026.
Madubuike played 47 snaps, more than any other Ravens defensive lineman, with three tackles and two pressures. Pro Football Focus gave him a grade of 90.1.
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“I feel great.”
Nnamdi Madubuike, after the game
The long way back
He hurt his neck in the second week of the 2025 season and was ruled out for the year. Surgery followed in April 2026, and at first there were fears for his career. He was cleared for training camp in July but sat out pre-season and the first two games before returning in Brazil, where 72,792 fans saw Tyler Loop kick a 56-yard field goal with the last play to win it. Madubuike called his time out "one of the hardest points of my life".
A dramatic finish in Rio
The game itself was a thriller. With a second left, Lamar Jackson found Zay Flowers for 27 yards and called a timeout, and Tyler Loop kicked the winning field goal. Derrick Henry ran for 89 yards and two touchdowns, moving to ninth on the NFL's career rushing list. The Ravens are now 2-1.
In 2023, his best season, Madubuike recorded at least half a sack in 11 straight games, equalling the NFL record, and earned a Pro Bowl place and second-team All-Pro honours.
Why he became Nnamdi
For most of his life he went by Justin. In 2024 he switched to Nnamdi, the Igbo name he was given, to honour his Nigerian heritage. He is one of a growing number of Nigerian-heritage stars in American sport; see our weekly news for more.
Reporting by the SitesNG Sports Desk, based on reports from CBS / AP, Yahoo Sports, The Baltimore Banner, BaltimoreRavens.com. Published 27 September 2026 in the African Sports News weekly edition of 30 September 2026.
