Ravens Beat Vikings 13-3 as Defense Forces Takeaways in Preseason Tuneup

Q: With a star defender sidelined, which late-round rookie is suddenly dominating the Ravens' defensive interior?

It is **Aeneas Peebles**, the Ravens’ late-round interior lineman who has surged with **Nnamdi Madubuike sidelined**. Peebles, a **2025 sixth-round pick**, has taken advantage of extra work with the first-team defense during OTAs and preseason while Baltimore’s interior remains unsettled. Reports noted he generated pressure on Lamar Jackson in practice and has continued to flash as an interior disruptor, which matches what he showed in college at Virginia Tech, where he had **11.5 sacks**. In the Ravens’ 13-3 preseason win over Minnesota, Peebles again strengthened his case by showing **burst and disruption against both the run and pass**. That performance, combined with his increased workload during Madubuike’s recovery from neck surgery, has made him one of the more notable young defenders pushing for a larger role inside. The broader context is that Baltimore needs interior pass-rush help whenever Madubuike is unavailable, and Peebles’ quickness, gap-shooting style, and recent strong camp work have put him squarely in that conversation.

3 articles · Updated · BaltimoreRavens.com · Aug 22

Baltimore capped its road trip with a 13-3 win at Minnesota, holding the Vikings to 3 points and showing the takeaways and late-game finish coach Jesse Minter wanted.
Mike Green opened the pressure early with a sack of J.J. McCarthy, and Ethan Burke added a forced fumble, a late sack and two pass breakups as the Ravens' defensive front controlled both backup quarterbacks.
Joe Fagnano produced the game's only touchdown drive, hitting Devontez Walker for 27 yards before finding LaJohntay Wester for an 8-yard score; Josh Cuevas led Baltimore with 46 receiving yards.
Tyler Loop steadied the kicking competition by drilling a 49-yarder after missing from that distance in the opener, while Ryan Eckley bounced back with a 54-yarder inside the 4 and five punts of 56 yards or longer.
The performance also highlighted roster battles: rookie guard Vega Ioane struggled in pass protection, while Chandler Rivers and Silas Walters recovered from coverage lapses with key late plays, including Walters' sealing interception.