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          Ravens not naming their next starting cornerback

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterDec 18, 2014, 07:00 PM ET
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Houston Texans aren't revealing who is starting at quarterback, and the Baltimore Ravens are remaining silent on who is starting at cornerback.

          Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees said the team hasn't decided on who is going to replace starting cornerback Asa Jackson, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last Sunday.

          "We're still evaluating it," Pees said. "We've got a few candidates out there, and we'll kind of see how it goes. In different packages, it may be different guys."

          Here are the candidates:

          • Rashaan Melvin: He's the least-experienced option. Melvin has played in one NFL game, and he was surprisingly good in his debut. In four passes thrown his way, Melvin allowed one catch and broke up another. The Ravens signed him off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice squad last month.

          • Anthony Levine: The converted safety started three games this season. Levine began strong after making the position switch, but soon struggled. Quarterbacks have completed 75 percent of their passes against him and have thrown two touchdowns.

          • Antoine Cason: A four-year starter in the NFL, he's the most experienced choice. Cason was released by the Carolina Panthers this season after giving up six touchdowns in 12 games. Unlike some of the other Ravens cornerbacks, he does make plays on passes, picking off 16 throws in his seven-year career.

          Cornerback has been undergoing change on a weekly basis. The Ravens have started six cornerbacks this season and have had 12 on their 53-man roster this season.

          "After a while, you kind of get numb to it," Pees said.

          Ravens coach John Harbaugh gave secondary coach Steve Spagnuolo a game ball after Sunday's 20-12 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Ravens' defensive backs broke up six passes and sealed the win with safety Jeromy Miles' interception.

          "It just seems like in this business -- probably like any other business -- there are just going to be challenges," Harbaugh said. "There are going to be tough things that are going to come up. It’s not a matter of 'if,' it’s a matter of 'what' they’re going to be specifically. This year, it’s the corners."

          Harbaugh added, "No, we’ve never lost this many corners before, but it’s always something every year, and different teams have different amounts of injuries. We’ve been hit especially hard this year, but that’s just the way it goes. We just have to deal with it. So, it’s been challenging."