Breaking: Ar’Darius Washington, the starting safety for the Ravens, tore his Achilles during conditioning and is probably going to miss the 2025 campaign.

In a gut-wrenching development for the Baltimore Ravens, starting safety Ar’Darius Washington has suffered a torn Achilles during a conditioning drill and is expected to miss the entire 2025 NFL season. The news delivers a significant blow to a defense that was already undergoing transition this offseason.

Washington, a projected cornerstone in Baltimore’s secondary this year, had worked his way up from undrafted free agent to full-time starter through talent, persistence, and grit. His injury not only creates a major hole in the Ravens’ defensive backfield but also raises new questions about depth, leadership, and the ability of a reshuffled defense to maintain its elite status in a competitive AFC landscape.

According to sources within the organization, Washington suffered the injury during a non-contact phase of the team’s offseason conditioning program at the Ravens’ training facility in Owings Mills. He immediately collapsed after planting his foot awkwardly while backpedaling in a sprinting drill. Trainers rushed to his side, and subsequent imaging confirmed the worst: a complete rupture of the Achilles tendon.

Head coach John Harbaugh addressed the media somberly on Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s devastating. Ar’Darius has been one of the most reliable, toughest guys on our roster,” Harbaugh said. “He’s overcome so much in his career already, and we have no doubt he’ll attack this rehab with the same determination. But there’s no sugarcoating it—this is a big loss.”

The timeline for recovery from an Achilles tear is generally between 9 to 12 months, and even the most optimistic projections have Washington returning only in time for the 2026 campaign. It’s a difficult pill to swallow for a team that had just penciled him in as a full-time starter after a breakout 2024 campaign.

Washington’s NFL journey is one of the more inspirational stories in recent memory. A standout at TCU, he went undrafted in 2021 due largely to his diminutive stature—measuring just 5-foot-8, 176 pounds. However, the Ravens signed him shortly after the draft, and he quickly proved his value.

Despite spending much of his rookie season on the practice squad and dealing with various injuries early in his career, Washington never gave up. By 2023, he had carved out a role as a rotational nickel defender and special teams contributor. Then, in 2024, everything clicked.

With Marcus Williams sidelined early in the year, Washington stepped into the starting lineup and thrived. He finished the season with 71 total tackles, 6 passes defended, and 3 interceptions in 13 starts. More than the stats, he brought a level of energy and sure tackling that became crucial in keeping Baltimore’s defense among the league’s best.

His effort earned praise from teammates and coaches alike.

“He’s a dawg,” All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith said in December. “You love having a guy like Ar’Darius back there. He’s undersized, sure—but his heart, his smarts, his instincts? Those are elite.”

Now, the Ravens will be forced to play the 2025 season without one of their most trusted defenders—and arguably their most versatile safety.

With Washington out, the Ravens face an immediate challenge in recalibrating their secondary. The safety group now looks increasingly thin—especially with veteran Marcus Williams still nursing injuries of his own and his long-term status up in the air.

Kyle Hamilton remains the lone elite constant at the position. The All-Pro hybrid defender is one of the NFL’s most valuable chess pieces, capable of playing deep safety, in the box, and over the slot. But without Washington alongside him, the Ravens lose their flexibility to rotate Hamilton freely.

That lack of versatility may force new defensive coordinator Zach Orr to rethink schematic packages that rely on three-safety looks, something Baltimore leaned on heavily during its dominant 2024 run.

Currently, the Ravens have several young players who will now be under the microscope.

Geno Stone, a former seventh-round pick, had a productive 2023 season but regressed last year and remains unsigned. The team could look to bring him back on a veteran minimum deal.

Brandon Stephens, primarily a cornerback, does have experience playing safety in college and early in his Ravens career, but moving him inside would create new holes at corner.

Pee Wee Clark, an undrafted rookie out of Texas A&M, had flashed in rookie minicamp but isn’t expected to be ready for regular season action.

Unless Baltimore is content to roll with a mix of developmental players and mid-tier free agents, they may be forced to dip back into the veteran market.

A quick scan of the current free agent market reveals a handful of intriguing options—though none as seamless a fit as Washington.

• Adrian Amos: The veteran safety has experience in multiple systems and is a proven tackler. Though he’s lost a step in coverage, he could step into Washington’s role on early downs.
• Micah Hyde: The former Bills Pro Bowler has hinted at retirement but remains unsigned. If coaxed back, Hyde could bring elite leadership and experience.
• John Johnson III: Once a top playmaker with the Rams, Johnson has struggled in recent seasons but still offers starting-caliber reps.

Baltimore is historically selective about veteran additions, especially this early in the offseason. But with their Super Bowl window still wide open, the urgency to act may outweigh their usual restraint.

Word of Washington’s injury spread quickly among teammates, with many expressing disbelief and support on social media.

Kyle Hamilton tweeted, “Hurts man. That’s my brother. He’ll be back stronger than ever .

Cornerback Marlon Humphrey posted on Instagram, “Prayers up for Ar’Darius. He’s one of the toughest dudes in the locker room. This one hurts.”

The outpouring reflects just how beloved Washington is in the Ravens’ building. His leadership, even as a relatively young player, had begun to solidify during offseason workouts.

Team captain Patrick Queen, who recently signed a contract extension to stay in Baltimore, spoke about Washington’s influence during OTA interviews:

“He’s one of the guys who sets the tone. He might not say a lot, but you watch how he works, and you follow that example.”

Washington’s injury comes at an especially precarious time for the Ravens. After falling just short in the AFC Championship last year, Baltimore is again among the favorites to contend in 2025.

The defense, long the calling card of the franchise, had been expected to carry much of the load again as the offense continues to evolve under quarterback Lamar Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

Now, with uncertainty at safety, the Ravens may be forced to put even more pressure on their young pass rushers and linebacker corps to generate stops. There’s also a real concern that Hamilton—whose ability to float between multiple roles is central to Orr’s defensive scheme—could be stuck playing deep safety more often than is ideal.

Washington is in the final year of a modest contract. With a major injury now on his record, his long-term NFL future becomes more uncertain. The Ravens have been known to stand by injured players, particularly those who’ve proven themselves as workers and leaders. Still, the business side of football looms.

Depending on how Washington’s recovery goes, and how the team’s other safeties perform in his absence, Baltimore may have to reassess its long-term plans at the position.

Could this accelerate the push to extend Kyle Hamilton with a record-breaking deal? Will the team prioritize safety in the 2026 NFL Draft? Both questions are now relevant.

There is no sugarcoating the blow that losing Ar’Darius Washington represents for the Ravens. Beyond the Xs and Os, it is a deeply unfortunate moment for a player whose journey has been fueled by perseverance and underdog determination. His presence on the field will be missed, but so too will his intensity and leadership off of it.

If there is any silver lining, it’s that Washington has been here before—written off due to size, overlooked by draft boards, pushed to the margins. Each time, he responded with relentless work and quiet excellence. Teammates and coaches fully expect him to do it again.

“He’s a Raven through and through,” Harbaugh said. “And we know he’ll come back ready to remind everyone who he is.”

For now, Baltimore begins the search for answers—on the depth chart, in the locker room, and possibly in free agency—as they enter the 2025 campaign with one of their most valuable defenders on the shelf.