Day after day, Jaire Alexander is bringing more juice to the Ravens' defense.
After having a strong start to training camp, Alexander had another impressive day during Saturday's practice, coming away with two interceptions. Both of those takeaways ignited a celebration with teammates, as the Ravens' defense stacked another stout day.
Alexander's first interception came in 11-on-11 work, when he intercepted Lamar Jackson on a pass intended for Zay Flowers on the sideline. Alexander looked more like a wide receiver on the play, keeping both feet in bounds and securing the catch while falling. After the takeaway, the entire defense erupted on the sideline and mobbed Alexander, with Sr. Secondary Coach Chuck Pagano leading the celebration in the middle of the group.
"He brings a ton of juice and energy," Pagano said of Alexander. "You can just see – when he intercepted a ball today, did you see the reaction from the whole defense? That's love. That's respect. When that happens, it's easy to tell. These guys know that guy is a great, not only a great player, but they love him as a human [and] as a teammate."
Alexander hauled in his second interception in seven-on-seven drills when he undercut an out-breaking route by DeAndre Hopkins. This time, Alexander rushed over to the adjacent practice field and sprinted the full field's length for a celebration.
It was another strong showing from Alexander and the Ravens' defense ahead of the team's padded practice in M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday at 3 p.m.
Here are other notes from Saturday's practice:
- Flowers and Rashod Bateman were both at practice Saturday after missing a few practices earlier this week.
- Hopkins arguably had the catch of the day, leaping up in the air and grabbing a high-pointed pass from Jackson on a rollout. The 33-year-old Hopkins has been one of the most impressive players in camp. If the ball is thrown anywhere near his hands, he's more than likely going to come down with it.
- Nate Wiggins reeled in an interception on a deep pass intended for Bateman down the sideline into double coverage. Wiggins didn't have to do much on the play, but he did a nice job tracking the ball and holding onto it as he went to the ground.
- Jackson threw a perfect ball to Keith Kirkwood for roughly a 60-yard touchdown in 11-on-11 work. Kirkwood got a step on Wiggins and caught the pass in stride near the goal line.
- Undrafted cornerback Reuben Lowery continues to have a nose for the football. He had a big collision with Xavier Guillory down the sideline as the two fought for the ball on a deep pass by Devin Leary. Lowery ripped the ball away as they went to the ground and jumped back up with the ball secured. After it was initially ruled an interception, both the offense and the defense congregated in the middle of the field to debate the call, and it was changed to a catch.
- Rookie kicker Tyler Loop didn't have any live kicks Saturday. Now the only kicker on the roster after John Hoyland was waived, Loop is 40-for-44 on field goals so far in training camp.
- Mark Andrews had an impressive sideline grab with Marlon Humphrey on his tail on a perfectly placed throw by Jackson, who stayed poised in the pocket. The offensive line did an excellent job holding up against a blitz.
- Second-year outside linebacker Adisa Isaac had a good day with a pass breakup and a few tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
- Rush had a beautiful throw to Keaton Mitchell in the red zone for a touchdown in 11-on-11 work. With Isaac barreling down on a free rush, the veteran signal-caller floated the ball perfectly to Mitchell on a wheel route.
- Nnamdi Madubuike had what would've been a sack on Rush. He also pressured Jackson up the middle for what could've been a sack, although Jackson took off and ran for what also could've been a big gain.
- Jalyn Armour-Davis had two pass breakups on plays where the wide receivers were making diving catch attempts.
