Report: Nate Wiggins ‘avoided’ major injury

Head coach Jesse Minter said last week that both corners had a chance to be back this week, so their return on Monday doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Both Wiggins and Humphrey missed the team’s preseason opener against the Eagles on Saturday, but missed less than a week of camp. Given their fairly quick return to the field, we will assume both players are good to go moving forward.

Wiggins was carted away on Tuesday, and Humphrey walked off with trainers on Wednesday. Minter’s phrasing is obviously non-committal, but it does seem like the Ravens’ starting cornerbacks will return before long.

Wiggins got tangled with Ja’Kobi Lane and tumbled to the turf. Jesse Minter said that Wiggins is getting tests done and that he doesn’t know yet if it’s a long-term injury. Baltimore’s cornerback depth could be tested early if Wiggins is indeed out for more than a short period of time.

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.