The Baltimore Ravens are doing everything they can to put Lamar Jackson in a position to win them the Super Bowl. This offseason, they went and signed one of the best receivers in the NFL during the last decade. One teammate has made it clear DeAndre Hopkins is more than welcome in Baltimore.

Marlon Humphrey has established himself as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks in the last few seasons. He is also known for making his opinions known. “I like D-Hop,” Marlon Humphrey said at his minicamp press conference. “I’ve gotten to have some conversations with him. He is ‘Mr. Contested Catch.’ That is for sure. Just having a conversation with him, I thought it was really humbling.”

The cornerback went on to add, “I feel that he fits the Ravens mold, and I think he’ll fit right in.” At 33 years old, Hopkins still wants to get the always-elusive Super Bowl before he calls it a day.

Hopkins was close to winning with the Chiefs last season, but they lost on big Sunday to the Eagles. Hopkins joined Kansas City mid-season and played 10 games for them, catching 41 passes for 437 yards and 4 touchdowns. His output dimmed in the playoffs but he still showed he can be a productive weapon.

The Ravens have a top-tier defense

Humphrey has played 8 seasons in the NFL and has made the Pro-Bowl in four of them. He has also been an All-Pro twice, including last season. In 2024, he had 6 interceptions, including a pick-six, defended 15 passes and forced two fumbles. Quarterbacks throwing his way only had a 60.9 passer rate. Humphrey needs to keep it going for the Ravens to contend.

The Ravens have playmakers on defense, not only Humphrey. Kyle Hamilton has established himself as a top safety in the league. He is a smart player with huge athleticism. However, if you look elsewhere, they have other great players. Roquan Smith is one of the best linebackers in the NFL. Rushers Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh both had double-digit sacks last seasons. This is a tough team to face.

Is Lamar Jackson under duress?

Lamar is arguably one of the best regular season quarterbacks of all time, and he is only 28 years old. He has two MVPs, 4 Pro-Bowls and numbers that would blow your mind. However, he only has one AFC Championship Game appearance, which was a loss.

His postseason numbers are nowhere near his regular season stats and the leash might be shortening. Once again, the Ravens have assembled a top-tier team that Lamar needs to guide to the promise land. It’s in his hands to change the narrative and win a Super Bowl.

Marlon Humphrey is one of the longtime staples of John Harbaugh’s team and still dreams of lifting the Vince Lombardi Trophy — a goal that has remained just out of reach since he entered the league back in 2017.

After hearing the announcement confirming former Packers star Jaire Alexander’s arrival in Baltimore, veteran cornerback couldn’t hide his excitement, stating that a secondary is being built that will make serious noise in the season ahead.

“A quote that’s never been said and probably will never be said in NFL history is, ‘We got too many corners that can cover,'” Humphrey said to the press, via the team website. “I think that’s a great problem to have. Really excited for that addition. The options are endless. It’s going to be a fun secondary.”

Kyle Hamilton, for his part, also shared words of excitement following the arrival of a new cornerback: “Great addition. He’s been one of the best in this league since he got in it. To have anybody like that, no matter what position, especially as a DB, it’s super valuable.”

Alexander had other options on the table

After announcing his intentions to leave Green Bay and seek a new challenge for the upcoming season, Jaire Alexander ultimately landed in Baltimore to join Lamar Jackson and company. Still, according to reports from Jeremy Fowler, the cornerback also considered signing with either the Atlanta Falcons or the Miami Dolphins.

“Jaire agreed to visit [Ravens], but didn’t make any sort of commitment until he was onsite. He just had great chemistry with everybody. They were heavily recruiting him,” the insider reported.

Are the Ravens Super Bowl contenders?

The Baltimore Ravens enter the upcoming season with strong Super Bowl aspirations, boasting one of the NFL‘s most talented rosters. Led by QB Lamar Jackson, their dynamic offense, bolstered by Derrick Henry, is poised to be a dominant force. Furthermore, their defense, which consistently ranks among the league’s best, features Pro Bowl talent across all levels, creating a formidable and well-rounded team.

Despite their impressive talent, the Ravens’ chances hinge on their ability to overcome past playoff disappointments. While they have regularly excelled in the regular season, a consistent pattern of falling short in critical postseason moments has emerged. Their success will depend on Jackson’s continued growth as a passer in crunch time and the team’s capacity to execute flawlessly under intense playoff pressure.

The first games of the season

• @ Buffalo Bills, September 7th
• vs Cleveland Browns, September 14th
• vs Detroit Lions, September 22nd
• @ Kansas City Chiefs, September 28th
• vs Houston Texans, October 5th

Marlon Humphrey, one of the most respected voices in the NFL, spoke on Humphrey’s “Punch Line” podcast and revealed how intense and talked-about the matchup against the Steelers was.

“I had to pray against the Steelers,” Humphrey said. “Because I was finna crash out. I could not control myself. I could not control myself. I never had contact with that many o-linemen in my life, not gonna lie.”

After this intense matchup, where Russell Wilson’s team narrowly secured the victory 18-16, the experienced cornerback even expressed regret, as he was fined at the end of the game. “And I got fined,” Hamilton said on the show. “Wild.”

After their matchup against the Steelers, Baltimore defeated the Chargers without hesitation in Los Angeles. However, in their last game before the bye week, they lost 24-19 to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Ravens have guaranteed security with Roquan Smith

The Baltimore Ravens not only have talent on offense but also on defense. Roquan Smith, the excellent linebacker in John Harbaugh’s team, made it clear how he reached the level he is currently showcasing in the league.

“I think it just goes back to my preparation, and the coaches giving me what I ask for throughout the week, what teams like to do in certain situations, just knowing what are these guys’ top plays,” Smith said. “At the end of the day, I look at it from this perspective: offensive coordinators, humans, they’re all creatures of habits and we all have tendencies at the end of the day, regardless if they’re small or little.”

The two-time Pro Bowler also added: “Being able to pay attention to that, being able to dissect it and knowing how offenses are going to try to attack you … little things like that, I’m always just trying to pay attention to and if I catch those things it just allows me to play faster.”

Smith is grateful to have Lamar on his team

Undoubtedly, the NFL today has a large number of quarterbacks at a very high level. Fortunately for Roquan Smith, Lamar Jackson is on his team, although facing him in practice is also quite a challenge for the linebacker.

“It’s pretty special what he’s able to do,” Smith said. “In practice, he doesn’t even run, so that’s the thing where he just beats you from the pocket and it’s just like wow, just imagine when he adds this other thing like being able to actually pull it down and run. When you see some of the throws he makes, and some of the acrobatic things he does like acting like he’s about to throw it somewhere, no-look passes and different things like that, it’s crazy. He’s as quick as a cat, as we all know.”

“I never got to play against him, and I’m glad I never got to play against him because I’d be scratching my head a lot,” Smith finally concluded.

What’s next for the Baltimore Ravens?

• Bye Week
• vs New York Giants
• vs Pittsburgh Steelers
• vs Houston Texans
• vs Cleveland Browns

To have championship aspirations, it’s not enough to simply play well; you also need to know how to win the crucial games—and that’s exactly what the Ravens did this past Thursday Night Football. However, not everyone was satisfied with the performance displayed on the field, and it was made clear.

Marlon Humphrey, the experienced player on the Baltimore roster, spoke with the media and shared his thoughts on the victory, as well as how the team needs to improve looking ahead to what’s next: “We’ve just got to play better. I’ve got to play better; we’ve all got to play better. We’ve got to play as a unit, and we’re just not doing that.”

The experienced cornerback expressed frustration over the team’s failure to showcase the talent they possess during the game. “[There’s] really nothing really more to say. We’ve got to keep working. We’ve got to take the practice to the game. [We had] a great practice week … What is missing there from how we’re practicing to how we’re playing in the game? It’s become clear that it’s something,” Humphrey told reporters.

“I think each guy has got to look at themselves in the mirror and figure out, ‘Why are you not playing how you practice something?’ You practice this route concept [and then in] the game, you don’t do it how you practice. It’s becoming more of a mental thing, I think, but we’ve got to get that fixed,” he added.

Humphrey and the goal to keep on growing

The important victory over the Bengals this past Thursday provided a boost for the final stretch of the season, although, of course, they’re not satisfied with the level of play. At least that’s how Humphrey made it clear after the game.

“These wins are getting harder to enjoy based off of what we’re doing in the pass defense. I feel like when I was a rookie – first-year guy, second-year guy – the vets I looked up to [and] the standard that was there and the pass defense… We’ve really lost that standard, and I feel like that falls on me,” the CB stated.

Humphrey finally concluded: “We’re going to keep chasing at it. We’re going to keep working at it, because I’m not really satisfied with what I’ve built in this secondary [and] where it’s gone. I just don’t think [with us] playing like this [that] we can go far. It’s cool winning; it’s great we’re winning, but I want to go far; I want to go to the end. The way we’re playing … Something has got to change.”

Ja’Marr Chase: A nightmare for the Ravens

Humphrey didn’t hold back any comments or feelings following the win over Cincinnati, and one of the key points he addressed was his experience facing the talented Ja’Marr Chase, who caused havoc for the Ravens’ defense.

“I’m tired of that dude. [Ja’Marr Chase] is just different. It’s not even so much about the route he runs – whatever. It’s just, [when] he gets the ball in his hands, if you don’t tackle him soon, it can get really ugly. He’s a good player. You never really can count the Bengals out when he’s on their team. I think he had like 200, like over 250 [receiving yards], which is rough, which is rough,” Humphrey told reporters.

What’s next for the Baltimore Ravens?

• vs Pittsburgh Steelers, November 17th
• vs Los Angeles Chargers, November 25th
• vs Philadelphia Eagles, December 1st
• vs New York Giants, December 15th
• vs Pittsburgh Steelers, December 21st

The player in question is none other than cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who had to leave the field during the recent Monday Night Football matchup against the Bucs after tweaking his knee in the first half. It was initially feared to be a serious injury for the player.

However, NFL reporter Ian Rapoport clarified that Humphrey’s situation is expected to be less serious than initially thought, and that his condition will be monitored daily to assess his progress moving forward.

Through his X account, Rapoport stated: “Ravens All-Pro CB Marlon Humphrey did not suffer a major knee injury last week, sources say following tests. He’s walking around with little discomfort. But after two INTs last week, Humphrey’s status is up in the air this week, and time will tell how quickly he can recover.”

Marlon Humphrey ended up getting injured while making an interception toward the end of the first half when he collided with Nate Wiggins. Although he was initially labeled as questionable, he ultimately could not return to the field during the Ravens‘ victory over Tampa.

Humphrey’s injuries this season

With seven weeks into the NFL season, the veteran cornerback for the Ravens has unfortunately had to exit a game early more than once, as he did last Monday against Tampa Bay.

Marlon Humphrey sustained an ankle injury during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5 and was spotted in a boot after the match. His availability was uncertain for the following week, but he ultimately took the field in Week 6 against the Washington Commanders.

If the situation is similar, Harbaugh‘s squad may opt to hold out Humphrey for the next game to allow for a more complete recovery, enabling him to return stronger for future matchups.

Which games could Humphrey miss?

While the final diagnosis of Marlon Humphrey’s injury and his recovery timeline are still unknown, here are the upcoming games that the Baltimore Ravens will face:

• vs Cleveland Browns, Week 8
• vs Denver Broncos, Week 9
• vs Cincinnati Bengals, Week 10
• vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 11
• vs Los Angeles Chargers, Week 12

Coached by John Harbaugh, the team has been performing at a high level. Next Sunday, they will not only face a tough opponent in the Commanders, led by the impressive Jayden Daniels, but reports indicate they could do so without one of their most consistent players on defense.

The player in question is none other than cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who was seen with a boot on his leg after the game against the Bengals. According to Bo Smolka of PressBox, Humphrey did not participate in Wednesday’s practice with the rest of the team.

“Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey, who was seen wearing a walking boot after the Bengals game, was not on the practice field Wednesday.” Smolka stated on his X account @bsmolka.

Humphrey has become a key piece of the Ravens‘ defense, recording two interceptions along with several critical stops in key moments of games.

Potential replacements for Humphrey

If Humphrey’s absence is confirmed for the upcoming Sunday matchup against the Washington Commanders, head coach John Harbaugh will be considering potential replacements for a key position, opting for a player with a different style.

The Ravens would have to rely heavily on Brandon Stephens and rookie Nate Wiggins if Humphrey is out of the lineup. Another alternative is to include T.J. Tampa in the starting roster.

What’s next for the Baltimore Ravens?

• vs Washington Commanders, Week 6
• vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Week 7
• vs Cleveland Browns, Week 8
• vs Denver Broncos, Week 9
• vs Cincinnati Bengals, Week 10

A new challenge has merged for the Baltimore Ravens the last two years. They were the best team in the division until the Cincinnati Bengals broke through with Joe Burrow at the helm, so they must be ready from the first game.

Keeping quarterback Lamar Jackson with a long-term extension was essential in that regard. They are still going to face the Bengals, but they were able to go toe-to-toe with them in the playoffs even without Jackson.

Baltimore have always possessed dominant defenses throughout history, and they maintain that specific characteristic. However, they recently confirmed that one of the main members of this unit had to undergo surgery.

Marlon Humphrey Undergoes Foot Surgery

Marlon Humphrey is the player who had to undergo surgery to repair a foot injury. Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed the news after practice, providing an encouraging update regarding the return of the cornerback.

“It’s been a lingering thing and they took a look at it and said, ‘You know what, that’s something we want to take care of now instead of waiting. ‘There’s no long-term concern, and that’s good”, Harbaugh said via Ryan Mink of Ravens’ official website.

Despite the coach didn’t give any timeline for Humphrey’s comeback, the estimation is that he won’t miss a lot of time. He may be out for around a month while he recovers, as was reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.