The scare is over. Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey were both back for full 11-on-11 work at Monday's practice, a week after separate injuries pulled each of them off the field — Wiggins carted off with a lower-leg issue, Humphrey exiting early the following day.
Head coach Jesse Minter didn't hide his relief. "Sometimes those things happen, you pray for the best and hope for the best, and both those guys were able to bounce back," Minter said. "It is a credit to them, again, that they were able to just overcome some small little things — and they're back out there ready to roll. They're very eager to be out there and to get the reps and to get the communication and the technique." Linebacker Teddye Buchanan, who came off the PUP list Friday, was back at practice as well, ramping up toward his own return to 11-on-11 work.
The timing matters. Baltimore leaves for Minnesota on Tuesday for two joint practices with the Vikings on Wednesday and Thursday, ahead of a preseason game between the two teams Saturday. With most of the Ravens' starters unlikely to see much action in that game itself, the joint practices are shaping up as the closest thing to real game reps a lot of Baltimore's first-teamers will get this preseason — making it a good time for Wiggins and Humphrey to be all the way back.
Minter framed the trip as more than just football. "It is a great opportunity for our team just to kind of be together, be away, spend time together in football and out of football," he said. "It is something we are excited about." The plan is two practices of roughly 90 minutes to two hours each, with the second day leaning more into red-zone work, before the teams meet again Saturday for the actual preseason game.
As for who plays Saturday, don't expect much change from last week. Asked whether a similar group would take the field against the Vikings as did against the Eagles, Minter's answer was short: "Yes, very similar." That means another game largely built around rookies and backups fighting for roster spots, while the projected starters get their work in through the week's joint practices instead.