Everyone is in a good mood at the Under Armour Performance Center, and by ‘everyone’, we mean everyone! If the Baltimore Ravens have smiled this much this close to a regular-season opener, it’s hard to remember when that might have been. Heck, it doesn’t get any more intense than the Hall-of-Fame middle linebacker who led them from 1996 until his career ended with a second Super Bowl win to conclude the 2012-13 season.

Now, don’t read what hasn’t been written, and please don’t hear what hasn’t been said. That doesn’t mean Ray Lewis’s Ravens didn’t know how to enjoy themselves or the game they had given so much of themselves to. That also doesn’t mean this iteration of the Ravens is any less driven or focused.

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There’s an air of confidence around this team, one that also lends itself to being a brotherhood united, one that is expectant of making good on unfinished business. It’s Super Bowl or bust, but everyone seems to agree. To accomplish that goal, it would undoubtedly help if as many hands were on deck as possible.

Jaire Alexander and several of the Ravens’ walking wounded are expected to return to work ahead of Week 1 action.

It won’t be long now. The calendar has long been marked for a September 7 regular-season opener in the same place the most recent playoff push ended. A road date with the Buffalo Bills is the first step of the Ravens’ journey towards hopefully closing the deal come next February.

Jaire Alexander hasn’t practiced since August 9th, but he is slated to return to work next week. Mark Andrews has been given the same diagnosis. Isaiah Likely continues to heal. Per John Harbaugh, wide receiver Xavier Guillory broke his clavicle in the preseason finale. Dayton Wade recently had rib surgery, but the prognosis seems great for just about everyone else.

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Fullback Patrick Ricard, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, and others who have not been practicing are expected to return to practice next week. It was recently announced that Jake Hummel made the team. He is already back after undergoing a successful hand procedure.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens expect Jaire Alexander and others back at practice next week