Week 1 hands Malaki Starks a fast track to a bigger second season, and the test comes with no easing in. Baltimore opens against the Colts, and the matchup that should jump off the screen is Starks against Alec Pierce.
Indianapolis officially made Pierce active Friday, setting him up to return from a heel injury. If he’s close to full speed, Baltimore’s deep safety is going to be busy from the start.
That’s what makes this such a useful measuring stick for Starks. The Ravens want to see a Year 2 jump from the former Georgia standout, and Pierce is the kind of receiver who can reveal a lot in a hurry. He’s built on stretching the field, while Starks is tasked with patrolling the back end and keeping the top on the defense.
Pierce was the league’s most dangerous deep threat in 2025. He led the NFL in yards per reception at 21.3, well ahead of Calvin Ridley at 17.8.
He also leaned into that role more than anyone else, running go routes on 23.8% of his snaps last season, the highest rate for any route type. On those 20 targets, he caught 40%.
For Baltimore, that means Starks may not get many quiet snaps on Sunday. He’ll have help around him from Nate Wiggins, Kyle Hamilton, and Jaylinn Hawkins, but the main responsibility in his deep area falls on Starks. If Pierce is attacking downfield the way he usually does, the safety will have to be sharp.
Last season, Starks posted a 67.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 36th among 98 qualifying safeties. For a first-round rookie, that left room for more. It also came during a rough year for the Ravens’ secondary as a whole, with the unit allowing an NFL-high 64 passing plays of 20 yards or more.
That’s the piece Starks has to clean up. Baltimore needs him to help stop the splash plays, and this opener gives him a chance to show he can do exactly that. If he looks steadier against Pierce, it would be a strong first step toward the kind of second-year surge Ravens fans are waiting to see.
In Other News...
Lamar Jackson Looks Reborn In Ravens Offense But One Concern Looms
Lamar Jackson opened the season looking every bit like the version of himself the Ravens had been waiting for. In Baltimores Week 1 victory, he completed 17 of 25 passes for 324 yards and a touchdown while adding 40 rushing yards and another score, a strong reminder of how dangerous he can be when the offense is working around his full skill set. The offseason hire of Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator already appears to have made a difference, helping Jackson bounce back after a difficult previous season and get the ball to multiple playmakers in rhythm.
Zay Flowers was one of the biggest beneficiaries, catching five passes for 150 yards before leaving with a hamstring injury. His early exit introduced the kind of concern that can change the tone of an otherwise encouraging opener, especially for an offense that looked far more explosive with Jackson distributing the ball across the field. The Ravens got the kind of start they wanted from their quarterback, but the health of one of his top targets will now be worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Zay Flowers Exit Leaves Ravens Facing An Immediate Passing Game Concern
Zay Flowers had already given the Ravens exactly the kind of explosive start they wanted in Week 1 against Indianapolis, piling up five catches for 150 yards and a touchdown before leaving late in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. He was listed as questionable to return at halftime and was spotted on the sideline without a helmet as the second half began, a frustrating turn for a Baltimore passing game that had leaned on his big-play ability early.
For a Ravens offense that has spent much of camp trying to sharpen its aerial rhythm, losing Flowers in the middle of such a productive afternoon was an immediate concern. His availability for the rest of the game was the first question, but the larger one was how Baltimore would handle the passing attack if the injury kept him from being a full-participant going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Enter Week 1 With One Big Question Against The Colts
The Ravens open their season on the road against the Colts, and the biggest storyline is the first game of the Jesse Minter era after the club moved on from longtime coach John Harbaugh. Baltimore kept its core intact, including Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, and also added veteran help on the edge with Calais Campbell and Trey Hendrickson, giving this roster a familiar backbone even as the sideline changes around it.
Indianapolis brings its own set of questions into Week 1 after a season that started well before fading late, and the hope there is that better health from players such as Daniel Jones and DeForest Buckner can spark a rebound. For Baltimore, though, this feels like an early test of how quickly a new coaching staff can settle in, especially on the road against a team that believes it still has more upside than it showed a year ago. [Read more 🡒]