Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins was carted off the field during Tuesday's training camp practice with an apparent left leg injury.
The injury occurred during a one-on-one period, with Wiggins in tight coverage on rookie receiver Ja'Kobi Lane on a deep ball from Lamar Jackson. Wiggins tripped over Lane's feet and went down, according to the Baltimore Sun; it wasn't immediately clear whether the injury caused the fall or resulted from it. The 22-year-old former first-round pick was helped onto a cart after a few minutes and taken inside, with trainers focused on his left leg.
Head coach Jesse Minter didn't have much to offer about Wiggins' status after practice. "We don't have a ton of information on that yet. We'll kind of get it looked at and see where it's at," Minter said, adding that he didn't know whether the injury was to the knee specifically and wasn't ready to put a timetable on it.
Still, Minter struck a cautiously hopeful tone. "I think there's optimism, but we'll look at it and see where it's at," he said. "It's one of those plays [where] it was really not much between the two guys in the play. Whether it was hitting the ground or whatever it was, we'll see what it looks like."
Wiggins has established himself as Baltimore's top cornerback, and any extended absence would leave the position thin. Behind him, only Marlon Humphrey, Chidobe Awuzie, and T.J. Tampa Jr. have proven NFL experience at the position.
Wiggins has started 23 games over two years, including all 17 games last season. While Minter said he's a unique talent, the first-year head coach also expressed confidence in the defensive back group's depth.
"Nate Wiggins is a high-caliber, first-round-pick corner — a great player. You’re not just going to say, ‘Oh, everything’s the same,’ whatever, because it’s built around the talents of the players. I just know that we’ll be able to do things, however it shakes out. I feel good about the secondary," Minter said.
“I look at Marlon — [he’s] probably had his best couple days, the last couple times out here. ‘Chido’ [Chidobe Awuzie] — this guy has played a ton of football, played at a really high level. I think he’s had a great camp up to this point. T.J. Tampa has done a lot of great things. Keyon Martin has done a lot of good stuff. Chandler [Rivers] has done a lot of great things. We have some young guys battling for trust and spots, and so I feel really good about the secondary overall."
The Ravens open the preseason against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium.
Flowers on the mend
In other injury news, Minter said Tuesday that wide receiver Zay Flowers is working his way back from a quad contusion suffered on Saturday.
"Zay is doing great. He was able to come out early today before practice and get some running in and get some individual work in," Minter said. "That was all part of the plan as he’s working back just through the soreness of the quad. Again, I expect him to be Zay here any day.”