Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins carted off the field with apparent leg injury

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Ravens starting cornerback Nate Wiggins was carted off the field about 50 minutes into practice Tuesday after falling to the ground during one-on-ones with an apparent left leg injury.

The injury occurred during a matchup with rookie wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane, who has quickly turned into a training camp fan favorite. Lane got the better of Wiggins on their first two reps, but Wiggins stayed stride for stride with the third-round pick on their third matchup, running with Lane down the field on a go route.

The pass was overthrown, and it appeared Wiggins and Lane tripped over one another after the ball landed on the turf. Wiggins remained down and appeared to grab at his left leg.

Athletic trainers quickly tended to Wiggins before he was eventually helped onto a cart and taken off the field.

“I think there’s optimism, but we’ll look at it, we’ll see where it’s at,” coach Jesse Minter said after the practice, which was not fully padded. “It’s one of those plays — really not much between the two guys in the play, so whether it was hitting the ground or whatever it was, we’ll see what it looks like.”

It’s unfortunate timing for the third-year player, who recently said he was feeling 100% healthy for the first time since he was drafted after he underwent offseason groin surgery.

An extended absence for Wiggins, who was listed as one of the Ravens’ first-string cornerbacks on the depth chart released Monday, would be a significant blow to Baltimore’s defense. Wiggins is coming off a season where he finished with 57 solo tackles, three interceptions and 14 passes defensed.

“Wiggins is a high-caliber first-round-pick corner,” Minter said. “You’re not going to be like everything is the same, whatever, because it’s built around the talents of the players.”

However, Minter said he feels good about the secondary, even if Wiggins is forced to miss time.

Marlon Humphrey and Chidobe Awuzie remain the veteran presences in the cornerback room, while the Ravens have several younger players who could be asked to take on larger roles. Minter specifically pointed to the progress from T.J. Tampa.

“I think we’re doing whatever we can to get T.J. Tampa ready to play — to get the young guys ready to play,” Minter said.

Tampa, a fourth-round pick in 2024, has dealt with injuries during his first two seasons but has flashed potential when healthy, including at this year’s training camp, where he has stood out consistently for his sticky coverage. Rookie cornerback Chandler Rivers is another option the Ravens could lean on as they wait to learn more about Wiggins’ status.

“I got a lot of confidence in the corner room,” Minter said. “I feel very good about the secondary overall.”

The Ravens will play in their first preseason game Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium. They open their season Sept. 13 against the Indianapolis Colts.

Jackson won’t play vs. Eagles

Quarterback Lamar Jackson won’t play Saturday against the Eagles, Minter said, with the Ravens expected to rest prominent starters throughout the preseason.

The Ravens’ hope is that the team’s practice schedule, especially its three joint practices against the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Commanders this month, will prepare Jackson and others for Week 1.

The Ravens’ first-string offense had another uneven day Tuesday, hampered by the absence of wide receivers Zay Flowers, who was limited to positional drills in his return from a quadriceps contusion, and Rashod Bateman.

Unofficially, Jackson finished 10-for-16 in team drills, but he was most accurate in seven-on-seven work (5-for-6). Jackson started 0-for-3 overall, had a red-zone pass intercepted by Humphrey in a not-quite-full-speed 11-on-11 period and nearly had another pass picked off. In a later 11-on-11 period that pitted starters against reserves, cornerback Bilhal Kone stepped in front of a deep pass to wide receiver Devontez Walker, only to drop the would-be turnover.

Jackson bounced back near the end of practice to find Walker on a couple of chain-moving completions, including a deep crosser that Walker secured despite a late contest by Tampa.

Extra points

• Defensive lineman Travis Jones (pectoral) made his training camp debut after being activated off the physically-unable-to-perform list. Minter said Jones’ activity level will be limited this week, but that he “looks amazing striking the sled. He’s been putting in a ton of work off the field, in the weight room, conditioning. I expect big, big things from ‘Trav’.”
• Along with Flowers and Jones, defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles and cornerback Keyon Martin returned to practice. Peebles, who hadn’t practiced in about a week, appeared to give Jackson a scare after he ended up surging near him on a quick handoff late in practice. Quarterbacks are considered off-limits during all periods.
• Wide receivers Rashod Bateman and Dayton Wade, running back Rasheen Ali, quarterback Skylar Thompson, safety Jahquez Robinson and linebacker Carl Jones Jr. missed practice.
• Kicker Tyler Loop went 7-for-7, his third straight practice session without a miss in “live” action. Five of Loop’s kicks were from less than 40 yards, but he hit a 41- and 47-yarder.
• Rookie defensive lineman Rayshaun Benny left practice not long after Wiggins was carted off. Benny appeared to get hurt early in an 11-on-11 drill, though it was unclear what the injury was.
• Undrafted rookie safety Silas Walters had an interception midway through practice, picking off a deep pass from undrafted rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano.
• Wide receiver Cornelius Johnson, a practice squad player last season, had the catch of the day, a leaping grab near the back of the end zone to beat Rivers for a touchdown from quarterback Tyler Huntley in seven-on-seven action.
• The Ravens ended practice with another be-at-your-best period. The defense prevailed in a one-on-one red-zone drill after rookie wide receiver Elijah Sarratt and rookie tight end Josh Cuevas, covered by Rivers and safety Keondre Jackson, respectively, couldn’t secure catches on back-shoulder throws. Undrafted rookie wide receiver Octavian Smith Jr. won the first rep after beating undrafed rookie cornerback Lardarius Webb Jr. inside for a short touchdown catch.