The Baltimore Ravens escaped Sunday with a victory, but the win came at a significant cost. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that Ravens tight end Durham Smythe will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after suffering a torn Achilles during Baltimore's 24-18 victory over the Tennessee Titans. An MRI confirmed the injury, ending Smythe's first season in Baltimore after just four games.
While his production may not jump off the stat sheet, Smythe’s absence creates another hole for a Ravens offense already dealing with several injuries. Baltimore signed Smythe as a free agent in March after significant turnover at tight end during the offseason. Isaiah Likely departed for the New York Giants, while Charlie Kolar joined the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Ravens responded by adding Smythe and drafting Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas to a tight end room still led by veteran Mark Andrews. Smythe was never brought to Baltimore to become a featured receiving option. Instead, the Ravens valued the veteran for his ability as a blocker and the versatility he could provide in the running game.
Smythe spent the 2025 season with the Chicago Bears alongside current Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, giving him familiarity with the system before arriving in Baltimore. The Ravens believed Smythe could help fill some of the blocking responsibilities left behind by Kolar and Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard, who also departed during the offseason. That role made Smythe more important to Baltimore's offense than his receiving numbers suggested.
Through four games, Smythe had recorded just one reception for four yards. Those numbers normally wouldn’t move the needle for fans; however, he played 126 offensive snaps, accounting for nearly half of Baltimore's offensive plays over that stretch. Now the Ravens will have to find another way to replace that production.
Rookie Matthew Hibner appears to be one of the players who could see an increased role. Baltimore selected Hibner in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and he has already started to become more involved in the offense. Against Tennessee, Hibner played a season-high 37 offensive snaps, matching Andrews' total after Smythe left the game.
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