Lamar Jackson and Jaire Alexander reunite at Ravens camp. They were teammates at Louisville

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) 鈥� Lamar Jackson wasted little time putting Jaire Alexander to the test during training camp.

鈥淗e tried to throw a back-shoulder on me with 鈥楧-Hop鈥� (DeAndre Hopkins), so I had to give him a little jazz about that,” Alexander said. 鈥淚 said, 鈥楥ome on, man. I know it鈥檚 my first day, but it鈥檚 still me, you know what I mean? It鈥檚 still me.鈥欌€�

Alexander and Jackson go way back 鈥� they were teammates at Louisville 鈥� and when Alexander joined the Baltimore Ravens this offseason, the two were reunited. The fit made sense with Baltimore looking for some secondary help, and the chance to play with Jackson again sweetened the deal even more.

Alexander suggested Wednesday he probably would have explored more options if Jackson weren’t on the Ravens.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 my boy,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want to win with him.鈥�

We could get used to this

鈥� Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens)

Alexander is the answer to an interesting trivia question: Who was the first player out of Louisville taken in the 2018 draft? Green Bay picked the defensive back at No. 18 鈥� 14 spots before Baltimore selected Jackson.

It’s safe to say those picks worked out. Alexander spent his first seven seasons with the Packers, starting almost every game he played. But he dealt with injuries to his quadriceps, groin and knee last season and played only seven games. In fact, he’s exceeded seven games only once in the past four seasons.

Green Bay released him with two years left on his contract. When the Ravens picked him up, they of Jackson greeting him.

鈥淚 tried to get him on a fade route with D-Hop,鈥� Jackson said after practice Wednesday. 鈥淲e were out of bounds a little, but he鈥檚 still that guy. Jaire鈥檚 still that guy.鈥�

The Ravens will obviously hope so.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been talking kind of me playing nickel, he鈥檚 playing corner and how I play things. So it has been exciting, but what I like the most is just his swag to the game,鈥� cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. 鈥淚 think confidence is the biggest key you can have at cornerback, and I think you can never have too much confidence.鈥�

Baltimore’s secondary includes a veteran in Humphrey, plus a trio of recent first-round picks 鈥� fourth-year safety standout Kyle Hamilton, second-year cornerback Nate Wiggins and rookie safety Malachi Starks.

鈥淚 love the secondary. I love the potential that we have,鈥� Alexander said. 鈥淚 love watching Marlon play. I love being around him. I thought I was weird, but I don鈥檛 know, he might (have) me beat.鈥�

Humphrey was asked about that assertion.

鈥淲e do the early morning lift at 6 a.m. It鈥檚 about eight of us, and he鈥檚 like, 鈥楳an, I need a speaker right here as loud as can be,鈥欌€� Humphrey said. 鈥淲e are not alike in that aspect at 6 a.m., but he鈥檚 a cool guy. We鈥檙e both, I would say, on a little bit of the strange side, but we鈥檙e really jelling well.鈥�

Baltimore lost cornerback Brandon Stephens in the offseason, and safety Ar’Darius Washington went down with a torn Achilles tendon.

Alexander brings plenty of experience to the group and seems to be fitting in 鈥� in his own unique way.

鈥淟ike I said, he wants music blasting. He said, 鈥業 need a speaker right here,鈥欌€� Humphrey said. 鈥淚 was like, 鈥榃e鈥檝e got them in the ceiling.鈥� He said, 鈥楴o, I need the boombox right by here, right in my ear,鈥� and I鈥檓 like, 鈥楢ll right, that鈥檚 different.鈥欌€�

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