The Ravens will likely be without a key defender for much of the 2025 campaign. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, safety Ar’Darius Washington recently tore his Achilles during conditioning. The injury will cause him to “miss most or all” of the upcoming season.
A former UDFA, Washington appeared in a combined eight games through his first three seasons in the NFL. The 2024 campaign represented a breakout year for the TCU product. The 25-year-old saw backup reps to begin the season, but he eventually replaced Marcus Williams as a starter opposite Kyle Hamilton. Washington finished the year with 64 tackles and a pair of interceptions, with Pro Football Focus ranking him eighth among 98 qualifying safeties.
Washington signed his restricted free agent tender back in April, locking him in for the upcoming season. He would have finally hit unrestricted free agency after the 2025 campaign, so the injury comes at a particularly unfortunate time for the safety.
Even with added depth, the Ravens would have continued leaning on Washington this upcoming season, with The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec pointing out the player’s ability to play both safety and nickelback. The team did add Malaki Starks in the first round of the draft, and the rookie will now likely see the bulk of the snaps next to Hamilton. The team’s other options at the position include second-year players Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade.
Considering the suddenly depleted depth, Zrebic wonders if the team could make a move for a veteran safety. Current free agent options include Julian Blackmon, Justin Simmons, Chuck Clark, and Quandre Diggs, but the Ravens may just end up keeping their eye open for options as team’s trim down their rosters in August.