Ravens observations: Receivers and defensive backs battle for highlights at lively practice

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After playing his first two NFL seasons without ever feeling fully healthy, Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins believes he’s finally at 100%.

Speaking after Tuesday’s training camp practice, Wiggins revealed that this offseason he underwent groin surgery for an injury he said had lingered throughout the first two years of his career in Baltimore.

“I just got surgery a couple months ago, so I’m feeling the best I ever felt,” Wiggins said. “I feel great, [I’m] moving great.”

The improved health was on display during Tuesday’s practice. Wiggins made one of the defense’s top plays of the day, going up to intercept a Lamar Jackson pass over the middle during seven-on-seven action.

There was a brief scare when Wiggins collided with safety Jaylinn Hawkins as he came down with the interception. He remained on the ground for a moment before walking off and eventually returning for team drills.

“I just got the wind knocked out of me,” Wiggins said. “I jumped for the pass, fell down on my back — just the wind. I’m good though.”

Beyond feeling healthier, the 2024 first-round pick believes another year of experience has slowed the game down for him. Entering his third season, Wiggins has become more comfortable recognizing offensive concepts, studying opposing coordinators’ tendencies and trusting his technique.

“I feel like I have the most confidence I have ever had right now,” Wiggins said.

That confidence has also translated into a larger leadership role in a young secondary. As the group adjusts to new defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach Mike Mickens, Wiggins said one of his biggest priorities this season is “just being a veteran” and stepping into a leadership position.

That mindset starts with consistency. Rather than dwelling on mistakes or big plays, Wiggins has embraced an approach that allows him to quickly move on and stay focused on the next snap.

“That’s all I try to do,” Wiggins said. “Just having the next-play mentality and seeing what the next play leads to.”

Bringing the flash

It’s been hard to miss rookie wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane as he dances along the sideline and celebrates enthusiastically with his teammates.

The third-round pick has a big personality, and so far, he’s matching it with a big training camp. At the second padded practice of his NFL career, he once again had the play of the day.

Covered by Wiggins on a third and long, Lane reeled in a one-handed catch near the sideline and managed to get both feet inbounds for an about 20-yard connection with Jackson.

Five days earlier, at his second training camp practice, Lane won a jump ball over safety Malaki Starks and cornerback Marlon Humphrey.

Later Tuesday, Lane bested Humphrey in a one-on-one drill, sending him sprawling on an in-breaker he won with physicality (and perhaps some lax officiating). He also froze cornerback T.J. Tampa with a rocker step before running by him on a go route near the end of one-on-ones.

With wide receiver Zay Flowers sidelined as he nursed a seemingly minor lower-body injury — and finalized his contract extension — Lane looked like the Ravens’ best target Tuesday. And every rep is adding to a foundation that the Ravens hope carries into the season.

“That was a great play by Ja’Kobi,” coach Jesse Minter said. “He’s continued to flash and make those type of plays. As anybody, you’re always searching for consistency, down after down. But … the more he shows Lamar that he’s making those types of plays, the more trust they build.”

Turnovers aplenty

Unofficially, Jackson bounced back from an errant Monday to go 14-for-19 in team drills Tuesday, including a 4-for-5 mark in seven-on-seven action.

He also threw two interceptions Tuesday. Both were breathtaking, for very different reasons.

On the first pick, in 11-on-11 action, Jackson didn’t appear to see defensive lineman David Olajiga dropping into a shallow zone on a “simulated pressure” that had defensive backs crashing the sides of Jackson’s pocket. Jackson appeared to be looking for running back Justice Hill over the middle, but he threw the ball right to the 310-pound Olajiga, who didn’t get far upfield before right tackle Roger Rosengarten jarred the ball loose. The offense recovered the fumble.

On the second pick, Jackson seemed to throw behind Lane on a pass over the middle. Hawkins and Wiggins collided, but Wiggins held on to the ball, and the interception survived his fall to the ground.

Quarterback Skylar Thompson threw two interceptions in team drills. Cornerback Amani Oruwariye picked off the first after breaking in front of a pass to undrafted rookie tight end Ty Pezza in 11-on-11 action. Cornerback Marquise Robinson had the second takeaway in seven-on-seven.

Cornerback Robert Longerbeam forced a fumble from wide receiver Cornelius Johnson after giving up a completion near the sideline, then scrapped for the fumble recovery himself.

One-on-one highlights

• Safety Kyle Hamilton forced an incompletion on a throw to rookie wide receiver Elijah Sarratt.
• Wide receiver Rashod Bateman separated from Robinson on a comeback route for an easy catch. He later beat Wiggins on an in-breaker for a short gain after good coverage.
• Wide receiver Devontez Walker beat Humphrey on an in-breaker.
• Tight end Mark Andrews beat Hawkins on an in-breaker for a short gain but lost his battle against Starks.

Extra points

• With Flowers unavailable, wide receiver LaJohntay Wester ended a cold start to camp. He caught four passes from Jackson in team drills and added a long touchdown pass from quarterback Tyler Huntley on an apparent busted coverage in a seven-on-seven period late in practice.
• Lane didn’t have the only highlight-reel catch. After wide receiver Xavier Guillory spun away from double coverage in the back of the end zone, he got both feet inbounds for a toe-tapping touchdown in an early 11-on-11 period with Huntley.
• The Ravens ended practice with some one-on-one showcases in the trenches. Tackle Carson Vinson held up well against a bull rush from rookie outside linebacker Zion Young, who shoved him after the play was over. Guard Emery Jones Jr. also stonewalled rookie defensive lineman Rayshaun Benny in their one-on-one battle. A few minutes earlier, undrafted rookie offensive tackle Diego Pounds lost his helmet after an encounter with outside linebacker Kaimon Rucker.
• Defensive linemen Aeneas Peebles and John Jenkins both missed practice, while Nnamdi Madubuike worked with athletic trainers on a nearby field during the team’s position drill period.