Nate Wiggins carted off with apparent injury

Wiggins was carted off in practice with a lower body injury. Initial MRI tests indicated the 22-year-old avoided a major injury and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport adds that there appears to be no significant structural damage. This is great news for the Ravens defense as Wiggins was poised to be the CB1 to begin the season. Though he will still miss some time, Wiggins will return “sooner rather than later.”

Last season, Wiggins was listed with groin and elbow injuries. As a 2024 rookie, he appeared on the injury report with a neck/concussion designation and later suffered a shoulder injury. In his recent interview with The Journey Media, Wiggins said he was also working through a groin injury when he participated in the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, and claims he has played at “60-70 percent” health ever since high school. Wiggins did not share details on his offseason surgery, but the multiple groin injuries obviously stand out in his injury history. Wiggins hopes to earn Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors en route to a Super Bowl victory this season.

Sanders took over after halftime for starting QB Dillon Gabriel after Gabriel’s concussion. Sanders nearly engineered a comeback drive at the end of the game, but the rookie’s performance was far from perfect. He is quick to leave the pocket and tosses errant passes, notably throwing an interception straight into Ravens CB Nate Wiggins’ hands on the Browns’ eighth drive. Sanders then fired a pass straight into a Ravens S Kyle Hamilton’s hands on the ninth drive, but Hamilton embarrassingly dropped the ball, punted it post-play and was flagged for a penalty. Browns rookie WR Isaiah Bond briefly got open in the end zone on the final drive, but a scrambling Sanders delivered a poor pass, leading the receiver by too great a distance. Sanders would be a rough start in Week 12, even if options are limited in superflex, and even if he is playing against the Raiders. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said post-game that Gabriel remains the starter.

He ominously did not practice the last two days of the week and John Harbaugh said his injury felt worse after Wednesday’s session. We’d consider Hamilton on the pessimistic side of questionable. Baltimore will have Nate Wiggins (elbow), who was cleared off the report, and won’t have Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring) after three straight DNPs. In theory these are moves that should boost Houston’s pass offense, but we’re not sure if such a thing is actually possible.

The good news on the defensive side of the ball ends there. Ravens S Kyle Hamilton (groin) was downgraded to a non-participant after a limited session on Wednesday. Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey (calf) and LB Roquan Smith (hamstring) remained sidelined. The Ravens’ injury-depleted defense will have a difficult time containing the Texans this weekend.

The injuries are piling up on both sides of the ball for Baltimore. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey is expected to be out for multiple weeks with a calf injury. Fellow corner Chidobe Awuzie and linebacker Roquan Smith were also absent from practice because of hamstring injuries. The Texans got on track last week with a 26-0 win over the Titans. They have a shot at riding that momentum to another win versus a Ravens team without multiple starting defenders and likely Lamar Jackson on the other side of the ball.

Wiggins’ return is a step in the right direction. The talented cornerback was injured after his teammate, CB Chidobe Awuzie, jumped on his back for a post-interception celebration. Unfortunately for the Ravens, DT Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) remains sidelined through two Week 3 practices.

Wiggins returned an interception for 61 yards in Week 2 against the Browns, prompting an exuberant response from teammate, CB Chidobe Awuzie, who “jumped on Wiggins’ back and accidentally took him to the ground.” ESPN’s Jamison Hensley said, “Wiggins did not appear to be full strength the rest of the game,” and began exhibiting a limp in-game after that. Ravens OLB Kyle Van Noy (hamstring) could miss multiple games and DT Nnamdi Madubuike (ankle) is also hurt. Neither player practiced on Thursday. Madubuike leads the team with 10 quarterback pressures and two sacks. They face the Lions on Monday night.

Ravens CB Arthur Maulet (neck) will also play in Week 9. Starter CB Marlon Humphrey (knee) was limited all week and is now labeled as questionable. Backup Jalyn Armour-Davis (knee) was a healthy participant on Wednesday and Thursday but showed up on the Friday injury report as a DNP. He is also questionable to play in Week 9.

Wiggins did not travel with the team while battling an illness and how now been downgraded to out. The Ravens will be down two top corners with Wiggins also joined by Marlon Humphrey as either out or doubtful, leaving a significant hole in the secondary of a team allowing the second most passing yards per game through seven weeks.