The Baltimore Ravens will try to hit the reset button during their Week 7 bye. At 1-5, the odds are stacked against them in terms of making the playoffs, but with a favorable schedule and various stars getting healthier, they could turn it all around.
In their Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the defense looked far better than it had through the first five weeks of the 2025 campaign. They benefitted from the windy conditions and an out-of-sync Rams’ offense, but the run defense was stronger, and the pass coverage appeared to find its footing.
Still, problems remain, and several key players must step up their game to put together a strong second half. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey and linebacker Roquan Smith are vital to turning this season around, but a player who is entering a critical couple of weeks is cornerback Jaire Alexander.
Ravens' bye week forces John Harbaugh to confront an harsh Jaire Alexander truth
The Ravens’ signing of Alexander has not been paying off as they hoped it would. The 28-year-old has been dealing with a nagging knee injury and has only made two appearances in 2025. He was active in Week 6, but never played a snap.
On Monday, following the loss, Head Coach John Harbaugh addressed Alexander’s inactivity against the Rams and the decision to make him active over rookie defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles.
“I think we felt like we needed Jaire, possibly,” Harbaugh said. “If someone gets nicked up, we need the corner, you have to have the corner against [the Rams].”
Despite him suiting up last Sunday, Harbaugh’s response made it clear that Alexander is still not right. We are six weeks into the NFL season, and Alexander still has yet to solidify a spot in Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr’s defense, and it might be time to make a decision on his future.
Alexander will likely steer clear of becoming a cut candidate, but that possibility is not too far out of the equation. The defense has had numerous injuries early on, and is desperate for healthy bodies on the field. If Alexander cannot get it right and recover from the knee injury, his time with the Ravens may quickly come to an end.
The more obvious decision is finding Alexander playing time. They cannot afford to continue letting Alexander be inactive on Sundays, and with so many injuries at corner, he needs to see the field. It is clear that he felt well enough to play in Week 6 and looked decent in Week 5 against the Houston Texans.
With such a crucial stretch coming, it is either time to play Alexander or depart with him. Players should be coming off injured reserve in the coming weeks, so the two-time Pro Bowler may find himself without a spot if the knee injury continues to linger.