Ravens WR Chris Moore, DT Justin Madubuike have a shot to return Week 3 vs. Chiefs
The Baltimore Ravens sit at 2-0 with two dominant wins in the books. But they haven’t been a complete roster yet this season. Wide receiver and special teams ace Chris Moore has missed training camp and both games due to a broken finger while rookie defensive tackle Justin Madubuike has missed time due to a knee injury. But according to coach John Harbaugh, both players have a chance to return to action this week.
“I’d say that they have a chance to practice this week at some point in time to some degree,” Harbaugh said when asked about the status of Moore and Madubuike. “Chris Moore, if he is able to do enough, he could play special teams; he could jump right in there. Justin [Madubuike], he’s a rookie, so we’d have to see enough to feel comfortable with him out there Monday night. But from a health standpoint, this is the week that both of those guys have a shot, yes.”
The Ravens could use all the help they can get going up against the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3.
While Moore isn’t likely to contribute on offense regardless of his health, having an experienced and very productive gunner on special teams isn’t something Baltimore turns its nose up at. Moore would also give the Ravens another experienced return specialist as an option if they wanted to move away from rookies Devin Duvernay and James Proche as the starters there.
Though the Ravens have revamped their defensive line, with the additions of Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe this offseason, Baltimore has rather uncharacteristically given their rookies plenty of playing time early this season. Fellow rookie defensive tackle Broderick Washington Jr. has received a total of 31 defensive snaps (24% of the total) through two weeks. Having the more capable Madubuike as a rotational option would likely be an upgrade there.
Considering Madubuike and Moore were the only two players ruled out of Week 2’s game against the Houston Texans, Baltimore is turning a very important corner in regards to their health. We’ll find out more this week when the Ravens release the injury report but improving team health is a really good thing.
