Baltimore Ravens CB returns from injury against Buccaneers

The Baltimore Ravens defense was hit by the injury in the first half of their Week 7 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens appeared shaken after covering Bucs star receiver Mike Evans downfield toward the end zone. After Evans broke off the touchdown, the two fell to the ground in visible pain in the back of the end zone.

Stephens returned on Baltimore's next defensive attack, but Evans was later ruled out for the remainder of the game with a hamstring injury.

Although Stephens was beaten on the route, his presence prevented Evans from making a clean catch, which paid off big for Baltimore. A few plays later, Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey threw an interception in the back of the end zone to end the drive.

Stephens, 26, was originally a third-round pick of the Ravens in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has started 37 of 54 regular season games for Baltimore since his rookie year, totaling 217 tackles (162 solo), 26 pass breakups and two interceptions. He started in both of Baltimore's playoff games last season and totaled 12 tackles in those contests.

He recently spoke about the inconsistencies of the defense this season.

“If teams want to believe, they can believe the numbers they want and they can think it’s going to be a walk in the park,” Stephens said. “But at the same time, we have to go out and do what we do and make it as difficult as possible on the quarterback and the receivers.”

Unfortunately for the Ravens, the secondary suffered another injury in the first half as the aforementioned Humphrey suffered a knee injury that made a return for the second half questionable.

The Ravens face the Cleveland Browns in Week 8.

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