Jaire Alexander hasn't played a game since Nov. 17 of last season and missed nearly a month of practice leading up to this week.
But when asked if he expects to feel any nerves before what would be his Ravens debut Sunday night in Buffalo, Alexander scoffed.
"Nah, no nerves, man. Just excitement and extreme gratitude," Alexander said. "It's always a blessing to be on the field. That's my happy place."
Alexander was a full practice participant Thursday and was back on the field Friday after missing weeks of practice managing his surgically repaired knee.
He said he feels good now and that getting re-acclimated has been like riding a bike. Asked if he expects to play against the Bills, Alexander said, "I don't have a doubt."
"Very excited. My face may not show it, but that's the truth," Alexander said. "I'm excited to be out there playing with my guys."
Leading the NFL in Takeaways Is a Goal
In 2023, the Ravens tied for the league lead in takeaways with 31. Last season, their takeaway total dropped to 17, their fewest since 2021 when they had just 15.
The idea of forcing more turnovers has been a mantra for the Ravens' defense all summer, in every practice and preseason game. With the regular season about to start, Head Coach John Harbaugh likes the turnover mindset he's seeing from the defense.
"The intentionality has been very good," Harbaugh said. "Historically, we've always been a high takeaway team. But last year was not good. We still overcame it and won a whole bunch of games. Our goal is to be the top takeaway team. If we achieve that goal, we're going to be playing some really great defense."
The Ravens had three turnovers and got zero takeaways in their playoff loss in Buffalo last season. They'd like to reverse that this year.
Harbaugh Expects Hard Work on Special Teams to Pay Dividends
After a 2024 season in which the Ravens did not perform up to their high standard on special teams, changes have been made. Tyler Loop is the new kicker. LaJohntay Wester is the new punt returner.
Meanwhile, Baltimore is also looking for improvement on punt and kickoff coverage, after special teams veterans Malik Harrison and Chris Board departed in free agency. Veteran newcomers Jake Hummel and J.T. Gray have been acquired for their special teams experience, and rookies Jay Higgins IV, Teddye Buchanan, Reuben Lowery III, and Keyon Martin are also expected to play on special teams.
Harbaugh expects improvement on special teams across the board.
"It's a continuation of the idea that we're going to attempt to play the game harder and more physically, with better technique and a better understanding of the nature of special teams," Harbaugh said.
"Special teams is a little different than offense and defense. It's more of a free-flowing type play. It's a little more like basketball or hockey. You've got to understand the timing, the angles. We've been working hard on all those things. Last year, we weren't there as far as that standard. This year, I expect us to be further along."
Teams Have Been Warned About Increased Emphasis on Unsportsmanlike Conduct Penalties
The NFL announced in August that it would place increased emphasis on calling unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, and game officials visited training camps to provide further details.
Thursday night's opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys was another reminder. Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected before the first snap after he spat on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Later in the first half, Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith was called for taunting after making a tackle, even though his flexing gesture over a fallen Cowboy was brief.
Harbaugh said the coaching staff has been reminding players about the increased emphasis on misconduct and taunting for weeks.
"We have a segment of our week where we show everything … situational plays, penalty plays, all kinds of plays that come up," Harbaugh said. "It's a learning opportunity."
After weeks of dress rehearsal, Harbaugh is looking forward to seeing how efficiently the Ravens operate in their opener.
"We want our team to play winning football," Harbaugh said. "We want to get our plays in, communicate, we want to get our subs on and off the field cleanly. Those are all things that are fundamental to winning football."
