The Baltimore Ravens are looking to make a statement on Thursday Night Football in Week 9. Many anticipate them to take home a win against the Miami Dolphins to make it two in a row, but in a short week, anything can happen.
With the star quarterback Lamar Jackson returning, and the offense regaining their mojo under backup Tyler Huntley in Week 8, Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken’s unit is expected to come ready on Thursday. The defense, though, still has a ton to prove. Many eyes will be on them as they take the field against a Miami offense that scored 34 points last week.
Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr has gotten his defense into a bit of a rhythm over the last two games. While they are still allowing a ton of yards, they have established a bend-don’t-break mentality. They held the Los Angeles Rams to 17 points in Week 6 and the Chicago Bears to 16 points on Sunday.
Still, there are a ton of question marks along Baltimore’s defensive side. The pass rush is the obvious issue, with pressure remaining inconsistent. The secondary, on the other hand, has developed into a more cohesive group, but the depth is becoming a growing concern.
Much of that depth problem is due to veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander’s lingering knee injury, keeping him sidelined. He has not been placed on injured reserve and has been healthy enough to be active on gamedays, but has yet to play much and is clearly not 100 percent when he does suit up.
For Alexander, Week 9 may be his last chance to prove himself with the trade deadline looming. By November 4, the Ravens could add in various areas, and one of those positions could be corner.
Jaire Alexander could lose his spot by trade deadline
It is more than likely that Alexander will be inactive once again against the Dolphins. He last played in Baltimore’s Week 5 loss to the Houston Texans when the team was desperate for cornerbacks. They started T.J. Tampa and Keyon Martin in that matchup, both of whom played over 20 snaps more than Alexander.
If Alexander does not play in Miami, the reports about General Manager Eric DeCosta making calls for a corner will have some more truth. While Tampa and Martin have potential, it is clear that outside the formidable trio of Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, and Chidobe Awuzie, the secondary needs some extra help.
The lack of depth has likely kept Alexander from being placed on injured reserve (IR). If DeCosta acquires a corner ahead of the 4 p.m. deadline on Tuesday, that could open up the possibility of an IR stint. That would preserve the 28-year-old for the critical stretch late in the season, when the Ravens play five AFC North foes in their final eight games.
Alexander could also quickly become a cut candidate depending on what happens on Thursday night and in the next few days ahead of the trade deadline.