The Baltimore Ravens declared star cornerback Jaire Alexander inactive for their Week 2 clash with the Cleveland Browns, via the team's official injury report. He played in the club's regular-season opening loss to the Buffalo Bills but is reportedly still battling through a knee issue from training camp.
Inactives vs. the Browns pic.twitter.com/1v2RmpXEAN
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 14, 2025
Perhaps the Ravens are erring cautiously with Alexander with the bigger picture in mind. The eighth-year veteran has an extensive history of health problems. After all, the two-time reigning AFC North champions enter their meeting with the Browns as double-digit betting favorites. In other words, they ostensibly have some margin for error against an inferior opponent.
Nevertheless, it's a concerning development; one that indicates Alexander may have suffered a setback in Baltimore's 41-40 defeat at the hands of the Bills. The Ravens are among the few squads equipped to overcome a notable secondary loss. Be that as it may, that doesn't make the two-time All-Pro's absence less worrisome.
Ravens CB Jaire Alexander being surprisingly inactive vs. Browns raises red flags
Alexander missed eight games with the Green Bay Packers last season due to a torn right PCL. The inability to stay on the field led to his ultimate demise with the only NFL franchise he knew before landing with Baltimore this summer. Unfortunately, the ailment has followed him to the Ravens, which should sound alarms.
After getting the previously surgically-repaired knee drained in July, Alexander sat out most of Baltimore's practices in August. The Ravens tried easing the 28-year-old in ahead of the 2025 campaign, though they may have jumped the gun and brought him back too soon. He was in a part-time role versus the Bills, and his ineffectiveness was costly in a seesaw affair.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) graded Alexander as the No. 113-ranked corner in Week 1 -- out of 114 qualified options. Not great, Bob! He fared well as a run-stopper, but his efforts in passing situations left much to be desired. The ex-Packer posted the second-lowest coverage mark of the slate (28.9).
2024 fourth-round pick T.J. Tampa and undrafted rookie Keyon Martin figure to see a bump in opportunities sans Alexander. It'll be interesting to see if the Browns try to test them, considering they're much more inviting than Baltimore's other defensive backs. Between All-Pros Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton, budding second-year pro Nate Wiggins and first-round newcomer Malaki Starks, this group is a nightmare to face.