The Ravens will be without cornerback Marlon Humphrey for at least one game, as he had a pin inserted into his finger, Head Coach John Harbaugh announced Wednesday.
On his podcast, “The Marlon Humphrey Show,” Humphrey told the story of how he dislocated his finger in last Friday's practice.
"I was just like, 'Oh, my finger's sideways. Let me just [pop it back in],' because I did it during the play, so I just finagled it back straight," Humphrey said. "Then I'm practicing, I'm like, 'Yo, my finger is like clicking still. [The trainers] are like, 'Oh, let me do it,' and then they put it back in place and it's just not staying."
Humphrey said the team's medical staff suggested examining it inside the team's medical area, but Humphrey told them he wanted to finish practice.
Humphrey still played in Sunday's game in Minnesota with essentially a cast wrapped around his left hand, and it didn't stop him from making his first interception of the season.
Without Humphrey, Baltimore could bump up the snaps for veteran cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who is coming off one of his best games of the season in Minnesota. With Kyle Hamilton playing more in the slot, Humphrey has shifted more outside.
Awuzie played 60% of the Ravens' defensive snaps against the Vikings but started the first four games of the season and could so again.
"'Chido' has been doing great," Harbaugh said. "He's been playing really well, and he's just a really, really, really, really good football player. He knows how to play, and you see it. … I'm sure glad he is on our team."
The Ravens could also lean more on rookie slot cornerback Keyon Martin, who is one of many rookies who have benefited from getting extensive playing time earlier this season when Baltimore was heavily injured.
The undrafted rookie started the Ravens' Week 5 game against the Texans, played 70% of the defensive snaps, and made five tackles. Martin stepped in for Humphrey on the Ravens' final defensive series in Minnesota and made three tackles.
"Everything he's done, he's done really well," Harbaugh said. "He had an opportunity to start a game or two there. I thought that was a great learning experience for him, and he was out there making plays. … He'll have an opportunity – it looks like – to do some things in this game."
Keaton Mitchell Has a Sweet Spot for His Usage
Harbaugh said he wants to see more Keaton Mitchell, but it's a balance because they don't want to take plays off Derrick Henry's plate.
After his breakout rookie season was cut short by a major knee injury and he lost almost all of his sophomore year, Mitchell says he's just focused on making each carry count.
Mitchell has had four rushes each of the past three games and averaged more than seven yards per carry.
"When I went down with my injury, all I prayed for was another opportunity. So being able to have another opportunity, I'm just blessed and thankful," Mitchell said.
"I'm just thankful that I'm able to move again and have the same acceleration and speed. You all haven't seen the top speed yet because I haven't broken out yet. But eventually, you all will see that and you all will see nothing has changed physically."
Mitchell knows he's not going to be a bell cow back in Baltimore with Henry and Justice Hill in the same backfield. He said his ideal pitch count would be about eight to 10 carries.
"I feel like I can make things shake with eight to 10," he said.
Harbaugh Talks About Jaire Alexander's Decision to Step Away
It was just 11 days ago when the Ravens traded Jaire Alexander to the Eagles, but now Alexander has been placed on the reserve/retired list as he mulls over his football future.
According to reports, Alexander is still trying to get his surgically repaired knee right and is considering retirement.
Asked whether the news that Alexander was stepping away from football caught him by surprise, Harbaugh said, "Yes, I guess so."
"I think the world of Jaire, and he's going through [something]. It's been a challenge. It's such a challenge for him," Harbaugh said.
"We were with him every day in here, and he was working hard to get back [and was] practicing hard to get back. So, I haven't talked to him or anything like that, so I can't speak to him, but I just think the world of him. I know he'll figure it out, for sure. He's just a good person and a hardworking guy."
Dre'Mont Jones Is Eager for a Trip Home to Cleveland
The past week has been a whirlwind for Dre'Mont Jones, being traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Ravens, then flying to Minnesota to play a significant role just five days later.
Jones had a strong debut with four quarterback pressures and two hits in 39 defensive snaps.
Now Jones will get a taste of home this Sunday. He was born in Cleveland, went to powerhouse Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, and played at Ohio State. He'll have quite a few family and friends in the stands at Huntington Bank Field.
"I get to see my girl, my kids, parents, brother, her side of the family, too. It's just good to see my original support system," Jones said. "And then just be in a familiar place. I feel like I've been lost for a little bit – unintentionally. I don't know anything about Baltimore. It's good to be back."
