Ravens rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders after he was in a car crash, coach John Harbaugh said Friday.
The circumstances of the crash are unclear. Harbaugh said the incident happened “a couple days ago.” Wiggins was listed on Friday’s injury report with a neck injury and concussion.
“He’s healthy, he’s fine, but he’s just not going to be able to play,” Harbaugh said.
The first-round pick was absent Monday but was listed as a full participant Wednesday. He was available to reporters in the locker room after practice. On Thursday, he missed practice and appeared on the injury report with just the neck injury.
It is not clear where the crash occurred. Police in Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Howard County said they did not have a record of it when contacted by The Baltimore Banner. State police also said they were unaware of the incident.
Wiggins made two tackles against the Chiefs. He played 17 defensive snaps and 11 special teams snaps.
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The incident comes nearly a month after star tight end Mark Andrews was in a car crash on his way to the team’s facility in Owings Mills during training camp. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy and inside linebacker Josh Ross were also involved in minor car crashes this summer.
Andrews was evaluated shortly after the Aug. 14 crash by the team’s medical staff, who determined he did not suffer any injuries. But he missed the rest of camp and did not return to the practice field until Aug. 30.
“I’m feeling really good,” Andrews said after that practice. “I’m excited. My body feels good, and I can’t wait for this first game of the season.”
Andrews called the crash “extremely scary,” though he participated in team meetings an hour after it happened.
“You never know what’s going to happen on the road,” he said. “You never know what things might be thrown at you, what things might come at you.”
The Ravens did get good injury news Friday. Van Noy (eye), who had a career-high nine sacks last season, participated in the team’s final practice ahead of Sunday’s game and said he was “optimistic” he could play. Van Noy was a limited participant in practice Friday and is considered questionable for Week 2. Harbaugh said the team would have a better sense of his availability Saturday.
Van Noy played the first two-plus quarters of the Ravens’ season-opening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs before he fractured his orbital bone when defending a pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Van Noy left the game and did not return. On his podcast a few days later, he called out the Chiefs’ medical staff for what he considered its delayed response to his injury, calling them unprofessional. He declined to comment further on the situation, saying he was focused on Week 2.
“I’m just grateful for the specialists that I have and the doctors that treated me, and very appreciative of everybody that’s been involved in this and just taking it one day at a time,” Van Noy said. “Like I said, 48 hours is still a long ways away, and we’ll see.”
NFL Players Association Executive Director Lloyd Howell said Thursday during his visit to the Ravens that the collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players’ union says assistance should be provided as soon as possible and called it an “unfortunate situation.” The NFL said through a statement released by spokesman Brian McCarthy that Van Noy received appropriate care.
Van Noy, who missed three practices before returning Friday, said he would wear a protective visor if he plays Sunday.
Rookie outside linebacker Adisa Isaac is considered doubtful for Sunday’s game. The third-round pick was limited at practice this week after returning from a nagging hamstring injury.
Note: Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (knee), a first-round pick in the 2023 draft, and reserve cornerback Decamerion Richardson (hamstring) were ruled out of Sunday’s game. Rookie offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson (illness), who sat out Week 1, is considered a game-time decision.
Baltimore Banner reporter Justin Fenton contributed to this article.
