Ravens’ 305-Pound DT Collapses in Critical Condition at Day 5 of Camp Amid Brutal 98-Degree Heat

Baltimore, MD – July 30, 2025

The sun didn’t let up for a second on Day 5 of Ravens training camp. With the heat index breaching 98°F and the turf radiating back every bit of it, the players gritted their teeth through red zone drills under a merciless sky. The pads popped, the whistles screamed — and suddenly, silence.

Near the far end of the practice field, a massive figure dropped to one knee. Then both. There was no contact. No dramatic play. Just a moment where exhaustion took over. Coaches sprinted. Teammates looked on. The drills stopped, and in an instant, the weight of August became something far heavier.

This wasn’t about fitness. It was about heart. This was about a man who’s been fighting for more than stats. Fighting for purpose.

He hadn’t been making headlines this offseason, but those inside the building knew the truth. He’d quietly transformed his regimen — showing up two hours early, refusing water breaks until the scout team reps were done, pushing sleds until his hands bled. He wasn’t here to be a star. He was here to earn back something deeper: respect.

That man was Broderick Washington.

After falling down the rotation chart in 2024 and hearing whispers that he’d become replaceable, Washington made a choice. Not to talk — but to grind. He stayed in Baltimore during the spring while others traveled, met with team nutritionists, and turned the weight room into his sanctuary. He wasn’t chasing praise. He was chasing redemption.

"He doesn’t ask for spotlight," said defensive coordinator Zach Orr after the incident. "He just works. Every day. And today, he gave everything. That collapse? That wasn’t weakness. That was sacrifice."

In the locker room, his absence was palpable. Justin Madubuike sat quietly by his stall. Rookie Travis Clayton was seen holding Washington’s gloves — still soaked. Online, Ravens fans launched the tag #For96, with one viral post reading: “Baltimore doesn’t fall in love with hype. We love grit. And Broderick gave us every ounce of it.”

As of late afternoon, team doctors confirmed that Washington suffered heat exhaustion. He is recovering and expected to be okay — though no return date has been announced.

For a team redefining itself on defense and a city that treasures effort over ego, Broderick Washington’s fall wasn’t the end of a player’s day. It was the rebirth of a warrior’s legacy.