Baltimore — We have already seen this film. The depth at cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens is impressive early in the season, but then injuries start to occur there. Wash, rinse, and repeat.
There’s a good reason why the team’s decision-makers at draft time say, “You can never have enough cornerbacks” nearly as often as they use the phrase, “Best player available.”
This year’s cornerback injuries have started early. First-round cornerback Nate Wiggins was the most promising player in Friday night’s preseason opener at M&T Bank Stadium, but the team lost 16–13 to the Philadelphia Eagles in an otherwise unremarkable game.
During Philadelphia’s opening offensive series, he recorded three pass breakups against quarterback Kenny Pickett, including one that resulted in a fourth-down stop. On the Eagles’ next drive, he almost had a fourth one in addition to an interception.
LOCK DOWN!! @WigginNathaniel
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 9, 2024
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When the Ravens selected the Clemson cornerback at No. 30 in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, he was exhibiting all the traits they were looking for in a player. He was making plays with the ball, pursuing interceptions, anticipating throws, and securing himself to pass catchers.
When Wiggins aggressively moved forward to read an Eagles screen pass on third-and-6 and extended his right arm to upend running back Lew Nichols for a yard loss, early in the third quarter, he was still on the field. As soon as the tackle was made, Wiggins leaped to his feet in celebration, but it soon became apparent that he was experiencing agony in his right arm and shoulder as he made his way to the sidelines.
Wiggins ducked into the blue medical tent, emerging a few minutes later with a pronounced preference for his right shoulder. Following him were members of the team’s medical staff as he made his way straight to the locker room. The rookie did not return, and the Ravens revealed he had a shoulder injury.
“I don’t really have any updates on anybody’s status right now,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “We’ll find out more tomorrow when he gets tested.”
Although Saturday is not practice for the Ravens, it suddenly becomes one of the more nerve-wracking days of training camp due to the anticipated results of an MRI or X-ray on Wiggins’ shoulder. Over the course of the three preseason games and a lengthy camp, injuries will occur. Not every team has the 53-man roster it had in mind when training camp began in late July as it begins to prepare for Week 1. It is inevitable that injuries will occur.
Chris Board, a standout special team player and reserve inside linebacker for the Ravens, was also lost to the concussion protocol during Friday’s game. Sanoussi Kane, a rookie safety selected in the seventh round, was called for a high hit toward the end of the third quarter and did not play again. It was determined that Kane had a stinger. Two important players, Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum and wide receiver Rashod Bateman, have already been sidelined by the Ravens.
But a number of things made the probable loss of Wiggins particularly painful, beginning with how excellent he had performed in the first half. Of course, Jalen Hurts, the top quarterback for the Eagles, as well as running back Saquon Barkley, wide receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, and tight end Dallas Goedert were all absent from the game.
Nevertheless, the rookie cornerback was attacked by the Eagles right away, and he answered their challenge. If his conversation about Philadelphia’s sideline was any guide, he appeared to be enjoying it.
“I think they kind of went at him a bit, which was good to see,” Harbaugh said. “When you’re a corner — a corner of his caliber — he wants that, so I think he was excited about that. He came up and made that hit later, so he played a good game.”
It was discussed not so long ago at the Under Armour Performance Center how hard it would be for Baltimore to hold onto every cornerback that should be on a 53-man roster. During training camp drills, veterans Marlon Humphrey and Arthur Maulet were receiving interceptions almost every day. Following his breakthrough season last year, Brandon Stephens was in midseason form. Wiggins had the right look. Cornerbacks Damarion Williams and Jalyn Armour-Davis, both in their third year, were active and in good health. Nickel Corner/Safety Ar’Darius Washington was the same.
Now? The Ravens’ decision-makers couldn’t be blamed if they woke up Saturday thinking, “Here we go again.”
Maulet, the valuable veteran slot corner who was an important piece of one of the league’s best defenses last year, had arthroscopic surgery on his knee. The early expectation is he could miss some time in the regular season. Rookie fourth-round cornerback T.J. Tampa still hasn’t practiced in training camp after he needed double hernia surgery following mandatory minicamp in mid-June. He’s expected back relatively soon, but he’s still a rookie who has already missed weeks of valuable reps.
Cornerback With 31 NFL starts under his belt, Trayvon Mullen had a great start to the offseason. But a few days into camp, he suffered a shoulder injury that proved to be fatal. When there are injuries elsewhere, having him fit and available would be a great depth addition.
Fortunately, Maulet should not be absent for too long. Before the preseason ends, Tampa and Mullen might make a comeback, barring any setbacks that the team has not disclosed. To be sure, the Ravens have not officially ruled Wiggins out of anything just yet, but you would think that Harbaugh would have announced any positive news late on Friday night. The scar tissue from the Ravens’ injury-plagued seasons will likely keep their supporters from considering the best-case scenario for Wigg
Even if Wiggins is fully fit, he might not start for the Ravens on September 5 against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, provided Humphrey and Stephens are healthy. Nevertheless, if the cornerback continues to play as he did in the first half of Friday’s game, Baltimore will undoubtedly find a way to get him on the field.
Because of Wiggins, first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr will be able to flank Humphrey with Wiggins and Stephens and move him inside, where he might be more productive at this stage of his career. In the event that Maulet misses time during the regular season, that alternative would become even more appealing. It will give the Baltimore defense, which aspires to be recognized for flying to the football, additional speed on the field. Moreover, it provides Orr greater options and chances to pack the field with defensive backs and set up advantageous matchups.
There are uncertainties on the other defensive levels for the Ravens. Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney left the organization as a free agency, which may make it more difficult for Baltimore to provide a pass rush unless some of their rookie edge rushers show rapid improvement. After the game, Harbaugh stated that one of those players, third-year pro David Ojabo, was not cleared to play again medically.
Trenton Simpson, a second-year inside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is expected to replace Patrick Queen, one of the defense’s greatest playmakers from the previous season. Simpson played nearly three quarters of football on Friday and looked the part, recording a game-high 11 tackles. Bigger tests are still to come.
The Ravens’ strong point of defense is expected to be their outstanding secondary, which is supported by safeties Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton. That may still be the case. But that would be more difficult if Wiggins sustained a serious injury. Additionally, it would carry on a pattern that the Ravens of 2024 are hoping to buck.
Rinse, wash, hope for the best.
(Photo: Stephanie Scarbrough / Associated Press)
