Head Coach John Harbaugh indicated Monday that Jaire Alexander's health played a part in his rough night in Buffalo in the Ravens' season opener and is something the team is monitoring going forward.
Alexander played 33 defensive snaps and surrendered three catches for 100 yards in Buffalo, per Pro Football Focus, including a 25-yarder on the Bills' final drive that essentially sealed the Ravens' 41-40 loss.
Alexander missed about a month of practice as he managed his knee, which he had surgery on to repair at the end of last year. Alexander also missed a couple of days earlier in training camp when he had his knee drained to relieve swelling.
Injuries have been the issue for Alexander, who has been limited to seven games each of the past two seasons, and the Ravens are working to get him back into top shape.
"It's a practice sport. Practice is important, especially at that position, for just being exactly right. So, he and I have had that conversation," Harbaugh said.
"I recognize it and the main thing right now is just to get him right. He's healthy enough, but we have to get him right so we can go out there and play like Jaire Alexander, which I fully expect him to do. We'll just give him an opportunity to do that."
He was limited in Wednesday's practice, just as he was a week prior when he first returned to the field. Chidobe Awuzie served as the team's No. 3 cornerback and played well in Buffalo.
Lamar Jackson, Harbaugh Reflect on Time With Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco will return to M&T Bank Stadium for the first time in a different uniform Sunday, sparking plenty of reminiscing about his days in Baltimore.
Flacco helped usher Lamar Jackson into the NFL in 2018. When Flacco suffered a hip injury, Jackson took over as the starter and never looked back, resulting in Flacco's departure via trade.
Now Jackson is entering Year 8 as a two-time MVP, and Flacco is still starting (and playing well) at age 40. The two will forever be connected.
"[I remember] just him being in the meeting room and how cool he was with things he would say and how funny he was," Jackson said. "I don't know if people know, but Flacc's funny, dawg. He used to have me rolling as a rookie. … He's a great person to be around."
Harbaugh and Flacco came into the NFL together in 2008 and enjoyed six playoff trips, 10 playoff victories, and one Super Bowl XLVII championship together before Jackson arrived a decade later.
"In terms of looking back, what an amazing run. What an era for the Ravens, the Joe Flacco era," Harbaugh said. "He's iconic in Baltimore football history. I respect that and admire that, and I still keep in touch with him, except not this week.
"This week, it's not about that for us as a football team. It's about getting prepared for a good quarterback that knows how to play the game, that's capable of making plays against you. We're going to have to be at our very best to defend against Joe and the whole offense."
Jackson Apologizes for Pushing Buffalo Fan
The fan who pushed Lamar Jackson during Sunday night's game in Buffalo has been banned from all NFL stadiums, and Jackson apologized Wednesday for his retaliatory push as well.
"It just happened. I got pushed [in the head], and [I was] like, 'What?' I thought I was outside. I wasn't even thinking about me being out there on the field," Jackson said.
"But my apologies to that [person] – whoever that was – I don't know who it was. My apologies to him. Just chill next time. You can talk trash and stuff, but keep your hands to yourself. That's all I can say."
Harbaugh said General Manager Eric DeCosta and Team President Sashi Brown spoke with the league about the incident. Jackson and DeCosta spoke "at length" about the incident.
"I am very confident he understands what he needs to understand," Harbaugh said. "So, as far as I can tell, I think we're in a really good spot with that."
A fan in Buffalo also threw a beverage at running back Derrick Henry as he went into the end zone on a fourth-quarter touchdown run.
"Stuff like that shouldn't be happening. This is not WWE. We're playing football out here," Jackson said. "I know [people are] going to talk trash. I know the opposing team is going to talk trash, so keep it that way. But keep your hands and keep your objects to yourself."
Jackson Explains Cramping Issue, Won't Cry Over Late Hit
Harbaugh said a factor in his decision not to go for it on fourth-and-3 late in the fourth quarter in Buffalo was that he could see "something wasn't quite right" with Jackson as he came off the field.
On Wednesday, Jackson said both of his calves were cramping and that he'd been dealing with it earlier as well. He said he was drinking pickle juice on the sideline.
"If I wasn't cramping, we definitely would've went for it [on fourth down]. We definitely would've went for it, I believe," Jackson said.
There was speculation that a big hit from Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver after his third-down completion could have also hampered Jackson. It could have been flagged for a late hit, which would have ended the game, but Jackson isn't one to complain.
"I kind of play football, but hopefully we start getting those calls sometime soon, fast," Jackson said. "Hopefully, that doesn't happen again to me. But it's football. I don't cry on the field. I don't cry at all, really. I just play ball."
