The Baltimore Ravens are 4-4 and fourth in the AFC North after three straight losses. The latest was a 36-10 defeat by the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, during which Lamar Jackson hurt his right thumb, now sending him to injured reserve.
But the latest flashpoint in Baltimore has nothing to do with Jackson's thumb. Veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey questioned the criticism, saying fans are "always freaking out," and that fans have responded by calling for the team to bench him or move on from him altogether.
Ray Lewis, the Hall of Fame linebacker, met with Baltimore's defenders last week, and Humphrey described that visit: "I took a ton of notes. He was big on how this team can affect this city. We obviously have fallen short of that, especially at home. That's a major thing, that's something that really bothers me, being here so long. Not playing up that standard does bother you. We've got a short week to kind of right some wrongs."
When it came to the Ravens fans, Humphrey said, "When are they not freaking out, to be honest? I've won a ball game, and you know what someone said? They told me, y'all almost lost today. Like, did we win or not?"
Humphrey also said Ravens defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver recently pointed out how negative perceptions from the team's own fan base can affect players. While the veteran cornerback said he personally tries not to pay much attention to that criticism, he acknowledged that the negativity can become contagious and that some players are more affected by it than others.
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The reaction to his comments about the fan base has been anything but upbeat. One fan's response was blunt: "Really can't wait to get this guy off my team, man. What an embarrassment!"
Another fan made the same plea in even fewer words, writing, "Please get this man off my team, God."
Pro Football Network also posted its own reaction to Humphrey's comments, framed from the perspective of Ravens fans.
Not everyone calling for change agrees on what it should look like. Another fan wrote, "I don't even want to trade him … I just think he needs to ride bench. Don't even get dressed up."
Another fan aimed the frustration higher up the organization: "Why the hell isn't any of the coaches or above stopping this crap? He's an embarrassment to the team."
One Ravens fan added, "It's incredible how this guy has completely gotten rid of any goodwill among the fanbase he would've had post-retirement. Went from a lock to be in the Ravens' ring of honor to (being) despised for life. Salute to him."
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Another fan framed the complaint around Humphrey's past and the podcast he hosts, writing, "Also to be straight up his podcast sucks! Marlon, we calling you out because we knew you used to be a dawg."
PFN's NFL CB Impact Grade had Humphrey at 77.6 in 2022, ranking 45th of 128 graded cornerbacks, before he improved to 81.6 in 2023, 20th of 132, and then peaked at 90.1 in 2024, second of 127. His grade slipped to 78.6 for the full 2025 season, 36th of 120, and through Week 8 of 2026, he stands at 71.6, tied for 70th of 106.
The numbers suggest Humphrey's on-field performance has declined since that 2024 peak. At the same time, his frequent public comments on X and his podcast have frustrated some Ravens fans, adding another layer to the criticism surrounding him.
Another fan took aim at that media work, writing, "Thought maybe he would make a late career transition to safety. Clearly, he is more set up for a transition to Barstool."
Humphrey's next chance to answer the criticism on the field comes Thursday night, when the Ravens host the Jacksonville Jaguars at M&T Bank Stadium.
Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano, who is dealing with an ankle injury, is in line to make his first NFL start with both Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley sidelined.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
