Head Coach John Harbaugh expects cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) and several other Ravens to return to practice next week as they ramp up activity before the Sept. 7 season opener.
Alexander has not practiced since Aug. 9. Last week, Harbaugh said Alexander “had something, just to kind of take care of that knee,” which was operated on Dec. 31 last year.
However, Harbaugh said Alexander still has time to be ready for Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills.
“He’s been working hard at non-football stuff, he’s been chomping at the bit trying to break out of prison,” Harbaugh said. “He’s been locked away in there (Under Armour Performance Center training room). It’s a nice place, beautiful, but in his mind, it’s a prison, nonetheless.
“They’re doing what they need to do to get him ready. Practice is important, [but] he’s a veteran guy. He wants to practice. When he gets out there, he’ll be going at it, but it will be our job to monitor that and make sure we did it right. It’s a long season. We want to bring him back the right way.”
Harbaugh also said he expects tight end Mark Andrews, fullback Patrick Ricard, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and others not practicing to return to practice at this time next week. Andrews and Awuzie went through workouts on a side field and Ricard watched Monday’s practice from the sideline.