Ravens Lose Rising Star Teddye Buchanan to Season-Ending ACL Injury - What It Means for the AFC North Race
The Baltimore Ravens may have shut out the Bengals on Sunday, but the win came at a steep cost. Rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan, who’s been one of the breakout performers of Baltimore’s defense this season, tore his ACL during the first half of the game. Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed the injury on Monday, and Buchanan is now done for the year.
The injury happened on a punt coverage play - a non-contact situation where Buchanan’s leg simply gave out. It’s a brutal blow for a Ravens defense that’s been gaining momentum, and it removes one of their most productive tacklers just as the playoff picture is coming into focus.
Buchanan, the second-leading tackler on the team, had been playing well beyond his years. With 93 tackles, five tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a half-sack, he was quickly becoming a foundational piece of the Ravens’ front seven. His Week 14 performance against the Steelers - four tackles, including one for a loss, across 41 defensive snaps - showed just how impactful he could be, even against physical AFC North opponents.
Now, Baltimore turns to Trenton Simpson, a third-round pick from the 2023 draft, to fill the void next to Roquan Smith. Harbaugh expressed confidence in Simpson, saying he’s performed well in limited action and is ready for the increased responsibility. But there’s no sugarcoating it - replacing Buchanan’s production and instincts won’t be easy.
Despite the injury, the Ravens put together a dominant performance in Cincinnati, blanking the Bengals 24-0 in bitter 10-degree conditions. It was classic cold-weather football - run the ball, control the clock, and let your defense do the talking.
Lamar Jackson didn’t have to do much through the air, but when he did, he made it count. He completed 8 of 12 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns, with one pick and a passer rating of 114.6. His 30-yard strike to running back Rasheen Ali and a 28-yard touchdown to Zay Flowers both came in the first half and gave Baltimore all the cushion they needed.
On the ground, it was Derrick Henry doing Derrick Henry things. The veteran back gashed Cincinnati’s defense for 100 yards on just 11 carries - a punishing 9.1 yards per attempt. That kind of efficiency is what makes Baltimore’s offense so dangerous when it’s clicking.
The Ravens’ defense, even without Buchanan for most of the game, was lights out. The exclamation point came in the fourth quarter when Kyle Van Noy picked off a pass and lateraled it to safety Alohi Gilman, who took it 84 yards to the house. That play sealed the shutout and eliminated the Bengals from playoff contention, dropping them to 4-10.
With the win, the Ravens moved to 7-7 and stayed neck-and-neck with the Steelers in a tightening AFC North race. Pittsburgh, currently sitting at 7-6, still has a tough road ahead - including matchups against the Dolphins, Lions, and Browns. Baltimore, meanwhile, faces the Patriots on Sunday Night Football and then travels to Green Bay for a Saturday night showdown on December 27.
All signs point toward a potential Week 18 showdown at Acrisure Stadium between the Ravens and Steelers with the division crown on the line. And while Baltimore’s defense has been a strength all season, the loss of Buchanan introduces a new wrinkle in what’s shaping up to be one of the most dramatic finishes in the AFC.
The Ravens will need Simpson to step up in a big way. Because if this team wants to make noise in January, it’ll have to do it without one of its most promising young defenders.