Ravens lose Tavius Robinson for season, with Jaylinn Hawkins also out vs. Bengals

Baltimore’s coaching staff announced outside linebacker Tavius Robinson will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after a pectoral injury, while safety Jaylinn Hawkins has been ruled out for Sunday’s matchup against Cincinnati.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said outside linebacker Tavius Robinson will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a season-ending pectoral injury announced Friday.

Robinson’s production through Week 6 included team-high totals of 3.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits, plus 18 tackles, and he had been playing at a career-high level, appearing on 72% of Baltimore’s defensive snaps through the first six weeks.

Minter tied the move directly to next-man-up opportunities, saying the injury creates more chances for rookies Zion Young and Ethan Burke to earn playing time and reps as the season continues.

In a separate availability update, Baltimore ruled out safety Jaylinn Hawkins (knee) for Sunday against the Bengals. The Ravens said Hawkins has played at least 82% of the defensive snaps in four of his six starts.

Baltimore’s base defense is built around a three-safety look that typically includes Hawkins along with Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks, and with Hawkins out, the team expects more playing time from Keondre Jackson and K’Von Wallace, with cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Keyon Martin also in the mix.

Minter also emphasized chess-piece flexibility, noting Hamilton can shift away from the line of scrimmage and that Marlon Humphrey has often been used as a nickel cornerback, keeping the defensive options broader than a single fixed rotation.

For the outside linebacker spot left behind, the Ravens said second-round pick Zion Young has played 35% of the defensive snaps and has been seeking an expanded role. Baltimore expects Young’s increased involvement in the pass-rush rotation, which includes Trey Hendrickson and Mike Green.

The team said Young, drafted as a rugged edge defender, has already established himself as a run stopper, citing Pro Football Focus grading that places him fifth-highest on the Ravens in run defense.

Young indicated he plans to “fill that role” now that Robinson is gone and aims to earn his first career sack, targeting the Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow.

Why It Matters

Baltimore must replace both a top-edge producer and a key safety presence heading into a divisional matchup with Cincinnati.
The Robinson loss raises the stakes for the Ravens’ depth at outside linebacker, testing how quickly younger players can absorb more snaps.
Hawkins’ absence forces Baltimore to recalibrate its secondary rotation, potentially changing the look of its three-safety base package.
If Young’s snap share rises as expected, the Bengals game becomes an early barometer for how the Ravens’ pass rush holds up without Robinson’s impact.

Sources

Key Facts

Head coach Jesse Minter announced outside linebacker Tavius Robinson will miss the remainder of the 2026 season due to a season-ending pectoral injury.
Through Week 6, Robinson led the Ravens with 3.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits, and 18 tackles, while playing 72% of defensive snaps.
The Ravens said Robinson’s injury opens additional opportunities for rookies Zion Young and Ethan Burke to earn more playing time.
Safety Jaylinn Hawkins was ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Bengals with a knee injury.
Baltimore said Hawkins has played at least 82% of defensive snaps in four of his six starts, and that his absence affects the safety rotation.
With Hawkins out, the Ravens indicated Keondre Jackson and K’Von Wallace could see more time, along with cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Keyon Martin.
The Ravens expect Zion Young’s role to grow in the outside linebacker pass-rush rotation behind Trey Hendrickson and Mike Green.