Ravens May Have to Rethink Trenton Simpson’s Role

Nov 27, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Teddye Buchanan (40) tackles Cincinnati Bengals running back Gary Brightwell (32) during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

Ravens May Have to Rethink Trenton Simpson’s Role

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Wesley Dixon | Last updated Sep 25, 2026 5:13 PM ET

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Teddye Buchanan is expected to make his 2026 debut after working his way back from a torn ACL that ended his rookie season. Buchanan earned a starting role last year and finished with 93 tackles in 14 games.

However, Trenton Simpson has played well in his absence. Head coach Jesse Minter spoke highly of Simpson during Monday’s press conference.

“I told the defensive staff [that] I think Trenton [Simpson] is playing like one of our best players right now. He is playing really fast and decisively. He is playing with a ton of physicality. He is seeing things and going and playing very downhill, which is great to see. So, I don’t think he has done anything to say we need to take this guy off the field, but also you are getting a really good player back, hopefully, in Teddye [Buchanan].”

This means that Simpson will still have a role on the team; the question is where he will be getting his snaps now that Buchanan is coming back.

How The Two Linebackers Can Be Used

Last season, Buchanan established himself primarily as a run defender while also holding up well in coverage. As a rookie, he played 70.8% of Baltimore’s defensive snaps according to NFL Savant, becoming a mainstay on a unit that dealt with significant injuries throughout the season.

Unfortunately, Buchanan joined Baltimore’s long list of injured defenders when his knee injury ended his rookie season. Simpson stepped into a larger role in his absence and has already recorded three tackles for loss this season, a mark that places him in the 98th percentile league-wide and reinforces his ability as a downhill run defender.

The issue is that Buchanan and Simpson do many of the same things well. Both are good athletes, reliable tacklers, and capable coverage players. Jesse Minter likes to align Baltimore in a 3-3-5, which places a lot of responsibility on the linebackers and defensive line to be physical and diagnose the run quickly. Both linebackers fit that mold. Rather than forcing one back to the bench, Minter could rotate Buchanan and Simpson as Buchanan works his way back into game shape and Simpson continues to play well.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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