Ravens, Brandon Stephens Eager to Face Each Other for First Time
The Ravens will see a familiar face in M&T Bank Stadium Sunday when Jets cornerback Brandon Stephens makes his return to Baltimore.
After spending the first four years of his career with the Ravens, Stephens signed a three-year, $36 million deal with the Jets this offseason.
The former fourth-round pick has been a critical piece of New York’s defense and is tied as the eighth-highest-graded cornerback among players who have played at least 50% of defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
“I’ve seen him on tape – he’s playing really well,” Harbaugh said. “I am very proud of him. But he’s on the other side in this next game, and we respect him. It will be a great competition.”
Stephens has missed just one defensive snap all season and leads the Jets with seven pass defensed. He attributed some of his success to his time in Baltimore.
“I had a lot of vets in my career when I was there that really showed me the ropes, and so that’s something I’ll be forever grateful for,” Stephens said Wednesday via NewYorkJets.com. “To get me to the point where I am here now – here I am in Year 5. So, truly grateful for them.”
As for how the Jets’ defense plans to stop Lamar Jackson and co., Stephens said the Jets are prepared as well as they can be.
“We have a good game plan for that,” Stephens said, “but it’s going to take everybody doing their job and all hats to the football. That’s what we preach every week. We just have to play our technique, play our keys, have good eyes, first and foremost, and that should take care of it.”