Injury
Baltimore Ravens
Durham Smythe tears Achilles, ending 2026 season with Ravens
Baltimore Ravens tight end Durham Smythe tore his Achilles in Week 4 and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season, removing a key blocking piece from the offense.
By the PickALeague Newsroom · Published · Source: Pro Football Rumors (Adam La Rose)Summary written with AI assistance — how we workLire en français →
The Baltimore Ravens will be without tight end Durham Smythe for the rest of the 2026 season after he sustained a torn Achilles in the team’s Week 4 outing. The veteran exited the game with an injury, and further testing has now confirmed the worst-case scenario.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Smythe’s Achilles tear will sideline him for the remainder of the year, removing a key run-blocking presence from Baltimore’s offense. The loss is a significant setback for a Ravens attack that leans heavily on its ground game and multiple-tight-end formations.
Ravens lose key blocking tight end after offseason turnover
Smythe joined the Ravens earlier this year to reinforce a tight end room undergoing major change. Baltimore reached a contract extension with Mark Andrews late last season, solidifying him as the primary pass-catching option at the position. However, fellow tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar departed in free agency, prompting the front office to invest two draft picks at tight end in April.
Against that backdrop, adding Smythe gave the Ravens an experienced in-line blocker to support their rushing schemes. His role was especially important in heavy packages and short-yardage situations, where his blocking helped set the edge and support the offensive line. With Smythe now unavailable, those responsibilities will likely shift toward the team’s younger tight ends and remaining veterans.
Existing connection with Declan Doyle now on hold
Smythe’s arrival in Baltimore also reunited him with offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, with whom he previously worked in Chicago in 2025. That familiarity was expected to ease Smythe’s transition into the Ravens’ system and give Doyle a trusted piece for installing his preferred concepts in the run game and protection schemes.
Instead, Doyle and the Ravens must quickly adjust. The team will need to lean more heavily on Andrews and its recent tight end draftees to fill the snaps and assignments Smythe was handling. Baltimore could also explore external options, such as the free agent market or practice-squad promotions, to restore depth at a position that had already undergone considerable turnover before this latest injury.