Ravens may already regret signing sidelined veteran this offseason

Entering the 2025 NFL season, the Ravens had one of the best defenses on paper. There was talent stacked all around the unit, especially in the secondary. However, four weeks in, they have the worst defense in the league.

Every aspect of the defense has been struggling, but a laundry list has not helped their cause. Ahead of their Week 4 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, they were without Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, and Kyle Van Noy. After the matchup, they added Roquan Smith, Marlon Humphrey, and Nate Wiggins to that list of injured defensive starters. That is seven starters on defense injured.

Heading into Week 5, the secondary appears to be wrecked by injuries. Humphrey is expected to be out for multiple weeks, according to Ian Rapoport, and the team is awaiting an update on Wiggins’ elbow. 

Their depth within the group was becoming lackluster due to offseason signing Jaire Alexander’s knee issues, which have kept him off the field in each of the past three weeks. Now, that signing that looked to be the steal of the offseason may be Baltimore’s biggest regret.

Ravens may regret signing Jaire Alexander

Alexander’s knee injury dates back to Week 8 of the 2024 campaign. He tore his PCL in the Green Bay Packers’ game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and that knee had flare-ups in training camp and he needed to have it drained. After an abysmal showing in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills, it was clear Alexander was still not right, and he has yet to see the field since.

Alexander was not a high-risk gamble. Baltimore signed him to a one-year deal worth up to $6 million in June. The price tag seemed well worth it, despite the 28-year-old's recent health. However, the move is coming back to bite them, as he is currently taking up space on the roster, where another player like versatile corner Jalyn Armour-Davis could be contributing.

Baltimore had to depart with Armour-Davis on roster cutdown day. While Armour-Davis was disappointing during his Ravens tenure, largely due to a variety of injuries, he looked much improved in the preseason and seemed poised to break out in 2025. However, due to the team’s depth in the secondary, they opted to move on from him. He now plays for the Tennessee Titans.

Alexander could still bounce back from the injury. He has been healthy enough to participate in team activities, but the coaching staff has yet to make him available since Week 1. With injuries piling up, they need Alexander back in the worst way. If he is not healthy soon, the signing may backfire.

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