Rashaan Melvin Impresses as Asa Jackson, Terrence Brooks Head to Injured Reserve

Dec 14, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Terrence Brooks (31) is assisted off the field after suffering an apparent injury on the opening kickoff against the Jacksonville Jaguars at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

The carnage in the Ravens’ secondary this season has been absolutely sickening, and we added two more names to the list of the walking wounded in week fifteen – cornerback Asa Jackson and rookie safety Terrence Brooks.  Both suffered ligament damage to their respective right knees against the Jaguars.

Melvin finished with 5 total tackles and graded out as the Ravens’ top corner by Pro Football Focus, receiving the second highest grade of any defensive player on the team.

Jackson had just returned to the team last week after missing seven games with a toe injury.  The Ravens have already lost four cornerbacks to season ending injuries, including Tramain Jacobs, Jimmy Smith, Danny Gorrer, and Aaron Ross.  The team just signed Antoine Cason last week, who was inactive for this week’s game while he tries to get up to speed.

The health of the secondary has been a major sticking issue for the Ravens, obviously.  There was a bit of a silver lining this week, however, and that is the play of corner Rashaan Melvin.  The Ravens signed Melvin, who is a former undrafted free agent out of Northern Illinois, off the Dolphins’ practice squad earlier this season.

The Ravens obviously weren’t intending on Melvin becoming a full time player, but that’s exactly what happened once Jackson left with his knee injury.  What happened next was pretty surprising, though obviously welcome.  Melvin made an immediate impact, recording two tackles (one for a loss) and a pass breakup that was nearly an interception on his first three plays from scrimmage.

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Melvin finished with 5 total tackles and graded out as the Ravens’ top corner by Pro Football Focus, receiving the second highest grade of any defensive player on the team.  This in his first action of the season, albeit against a rookie quarterback.  But Melvin was undoubtedly solid, giving up a mere one reception on four targets for 12 yards.

As coaches love to say, it is truly “next man up” in regards to the Ravens secondary this year.  What began the season as a promising unit has quickly been blown to bits and routinely exposed by good quarterbacks.  Rashaan Melvin is the next man up this week, and let’s hope that he is the last.  And that his play continues to be as solid as it was in his excellent debut.