Nate

Wiggins

Cornerback Nate Wiggins remains sidelined with a concussion. Hamilton appeared to be dealing with a shoulder issue during the Ravens’ Week 2 loss to the Raiders. He is listed with a back injury on the report, so it’s unclear if the two issues are related. The Ravens will be a far easier matchup for the Cowboys if both Hamilton and Wiggins are out for Week 3.

Wiggins didn’t appear on the injury report until Thursday, suggesting he suffered the concussion during practice or his symptoms simply took a few days to manifest. He remained out of practice on Friday. Either way, the rookie corner will miss at least one week while working his way through the league’s concussion protocol.

Wiggins suffered a shoulder injury in the team’s first preseason game against the Eagles. Despite early concerns that his injury may be something serious, an MRI revealed no significant damage, and now, Wiggins is back with the team. Wiggins had an impressive performance in his unofficial pro debut and is expected to play a key role in a Ravens secondary that is chock full of playmakers.

The Ravens and their fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Wiggins made a strong impression in his preseason debut but left with a shoulder injury that left some concerned after the game. Fortunately, an MRI didn’t reveal any notable damage, as the No. 30 overall pick appears to have avoided any kind of major injury and will have a chance to suit up in Week 1 when the Ravens kick off the 2024 NFL season against the Chiefs on September 5. It’s possible Wiggins will miss some practice after Friday’s contest, but it sounds like the worst is behind him at this point.

We don’t yet know the severity of the injury, but it sure puts a damper on what was otherwise a great night for Wiggins. The rookie first-rounder broke up three passes on his first drive of the game, and was blanketing opposing receivers all night. He appeared to injure his shoulder while attempting to make a tackle, and spent time in the team’s medical tent before heading to the locker room. Wiggins was said to have added 10-15 pounds of weight this offseason after checking in at 173 pounds during the NFL Scouting Combine. His size and durability were a concern entering the draft, and are now again in play after his first taste of NFL action. We’ll likely have more updates on this injury in the coming days.

Wiggins checked in at 173 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, which created concerns about how his size would affect his transition to the pros. Similar concerns were made about Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes last season when Forbes weighed in at 166 pounds just months before the Commanders made him the No. 16 overall pick. Despite his success at Mississippi State, Forbes struggled through much of his rookie season and was bullied at times by more physical receivers. As Wiggins pointed out, he’s “only 20 years old” and “not fully [grown] yet.” His elite coverage skills while at Clemson popped up frequently on tape. If he can attain a more ideal weight while retaining his 4.28 speed, he could make life very difficult for opposing receivers in the near future.

The Ravens have wasted little time signing their 2024 rookie class. In addition to getting Wiggins under contract, the Ravens also signed OT Roger Rosengarten, CB T.J. Tampa, and S Sanoussi Kane. Wiggins is an undersized but speedy corner who will help solidify a secondary that’s led by 27-year-old Marlon Humphrey and a rising star in safety Kyle Hamilton. Wiggins won’t be tasked with CB1 duties as long as Humphrey is healthy and has a chance to bolster an already solid Ravens secondary.

Wiggins (6’013/173) was a highly sought after recruit who enrolled early and earned 128 reps as a freshman while showing a glimpse of things to come by holding opponents to just one reception on seven targets. Sophomore year he assumed a starting role and proceeded to lead Clemson with 14 PBU to go with a 98-yard pick-six and 79th percentile PFF cover grade. Wiggins was ready to assume CB1 shutdown corner this year, and did so in impressive fashion. His 44% completion rate with a 44.4 NFL passer rating in 2023 was a noticeable improvement over his 51% comp rate and 74.8 NFLPR from his 2022 campaign. He also slashed his yards per catch allowed from 12.4-to-9.8 while drawing just one coverage penalty and allowing one reception of 20+ yards all season. Wiggins dazzled at the Combine by running a sensational 4.28s 40-yard dash that ranked in the 99.8th percentile and was the second-fastest 40-time from the 2024 class. He posted a 36” vertical (67th%) and 10’07” broad jump (88th%), but didn’t perform any agility drills or bench for a somewhat incomplete 9.44 relative athletic score. Wiggins will join a Baltimore secondary graded by PFF as last year’s second best coverage unit.