(Updated 10:15 p.m.)
BALTIMORE — After struggling and being picked on by Buffalo on the final drive of last Sunday’s season-opening loss, two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander was deactivated by the Ravens for their home opener.
Despite not carrying a game status injury designation into Week 2, Alexander was inactive as Baltimore took down Cleveland in a 41-17 final. The 28-year-old missed the final three weeks of training camp while managing the same problematic right knee that limited him to seven games with Green Bay last year.
Both head coach John Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Zach Orr acknowledged the long August layoff being a factor in Alexander’s poor performance against the Bills.
“Jaire Alexander is going to play great football for us this year,” Harbaugh said after Sunday’s win. “I kind of made the decision. He was pushing me hard, but I made the decision [and told him], ‘Let’s get completely right in football shape.’ You have to be in football shape, and he didn’t get a chance to be in training camp for the full thing. He’s healthy; he’s going to be fine. He’ll be out there very soon playing great ball for us.”
Signed to a one-year, $4 million contract in mid-June after being released by the Packers earlier that month, Alexander looked good at the start of training camp, but he had his knee drained in late July and didn’t take part in any practices from Aug. 10 until the Wednesday before the Sept. 7 opener.
In 33 snaps against the Bills, Alexander made three tackles with Pro Football Focus crediting him with surrendering three receptions for 83 yards on three targets. He was also flagged for pass interference in the third quarter.
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With Alexander out, second-year cornerback T.J. Tampa assumed his role as the fourth cornerback in the dime package. Rookie safety Reuben Lowery was also active and made his NFL debut.
Baltimore’s five other inactive players for Sunday’s game were a repeat from Week 1.
Cleveland deactivated right tackle Jack Conklin, who was dealing with elbow and eye injuries throughout the week. As expected, Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins was active and made his NFL debut, carrying 10 times for a game-high 61 yards.
Below were the Week 2 inactives:
BALTIMORE
CB Jaire Alexander
RB Keaton Mitchell
OLB David Ojabo
OT Carson Vinson
FB Patrick Ricard
TE Isaiah Likely
CLEVELAND
OT Jack Conklin
QB Shedeur Sanders (emergency third quarterback)
DT Mike Hall Jr.
G Zak Zinter
RB Raheim Sanders
