OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Lamar Jackson didn’t waste any time challenging Jaire Alexander during Baltimore Ravens camp.
“He tried to throw a back-shoulder pass to me with DeAndre Hopkins, so I had to give him a little attitude about it,” Alexander said. “I told him, ‘It’s only my first day, but it’s still me, you know?’”
Alexander and Jackson go way back — they were teammates at Louisville. When Alexander signed with the Ravens this offseason, the two were reunited. Baltimore’s need for help in the secondary made the move logical, and playing alongside Jackson again made it even better. Alexander admitted he might have considered other options if Jackson wasn’t on the team.
“He’s my guy,” Alexander said. “I want to win with him.”
Alexander was actually the first player from Louisville drafted in 2018, selected by Green Bay at No. 18, 14 picks before Baltimore chose Jackson. Both players have had successful careers. Alexander spent seven seasons with the Packers, starting nearly every game, although injuries limited him to just seven games last season. He’s played more than seven games only once in the last four years.
After Green Bay released him with two years left on his deal, Baltimore picked him up and shared a video of Jackson welcoming him.
“I tried to get him on a fade route with D-Hop,” Jackson said after practice. “We were a bit out of bounds, but he’s still that guy. Jaire’s still that guy.”
The Ravens are hopeful he continues to perform well.
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey said, “We’ve been talking about me playing nickel, him at corner, and how we cover things. What I like most is his swag. Confidence is everything for a cornerback, and he’s got plenty of it.”
Baltimore’s secondary includes Humphrey, plus promising young players like safety Kyle Hamilton, cornerback Nate Wiggins, and rookie safety Malachi Starks.
“I love the secondary and the potential we have,” Alexander said. “I enjoy watching Marlon play and being around him. I thought I was weird, but he might be weirder.”
Humphrey responded, “We do early morning lifts at 6 a.m. with about eight guys, and Jaire says, ‘I need a speaker blasting right here.’ We have speakers in the ceiling, but he wants a boombox right next to him. We’re both a little strange, but we’re clicking.”
Baltimore lost cornerback Brandon Stephens and safety Ar’Darius Washington to injuries in the offseason, so Alexander’s experience is a valuable addition. He’s already fitting in — in his own unique style.
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