Ravens rookie defensive back Nate Wiggins suffers minor shoulder sprain in preseason game vs. Eagles

Ravens rookie defensive back Nate Wiggins came into the NFL known as one of the most dominant corners in college football for the Clemson Tigers. And he didn’t disappoint in his first outing of the preseason against the Philadelphia Eagles. Wiggins had six targets thrown his direction, and he only allowed two catches for eight yards. His performance was so dominant that he was the highest graded player on the Ravens’ roster for Week 1 of the preseason, according to Pro Football Focus.

Unfortunately for the Ravens, he suffered a minor shoulder sprain in the game. The good news for the franchise is that he isn’t expected to miss any regular season time. He is considered day-to-day, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Baltimore drafted him in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the No. 30 overall selection. It’s just one game, but he’s already looking like a future star in their secondary. It should be fascinating to watch his career develop over the next few years.

More on Nate Wiggins and his dominant college football career

Wiggins spent the past three seasons at Clemson. During that time, he appeared in 34 games, including 18 starts the past two seasons.

In total, Wiggins posted 60 tackles, 19 deflections, a trio of interceptions for a pair of pick-sixes, two forced fumbles, and a sack. That included this past fall where he totaled 28 tackles, six deflections, and two picks with one score to go along with all of his forced fumbles and sacks.

That production earned Wiggins the honor of being an All-ACC Selection, including first team honors in 2023.

Wiggins played high school football at Westlake. He was a four-star prospect and the No. 119 overall recruit in the 2021 cycle. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also rated as the No. 8 CB in the class and the No. 13 player out of Georgia.

Wiggins is the latest player and defender from Clemson to go high in the NFL Draft. He’ll now look to follow in those previous footsteps as he heads to Baltimore to join their secondary.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about him

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described Wiggins as “a defensive coordinator’s dream” in his overall draft analysis of him. He sees him as a prospect that has all the traits and tools to succeed as a professional. That’s why he expects Wiggins to be a hot commodity in the draft.

“Wiggins’ combination of coverage talent and traits could make him a defensive coordinator’s dream. He’s tall, long and fast with rare recovery speed when beaten. Silky smooth lower-body movement allows him to mirror releases and trace routes without much effort,” Zierlein wrote. “(Wiggins) can squeeze a little tighter from off-man coverage, while his range as a Cover 3 cornerback makes him a dangerous option to throw near. He plays with good recognition and elite burst to the throw, which could lead to Pro Bowl production if he can play with more consistent decisiveness. He needs to become a tougher player in run support and when contesting catches against NFL size.”

“Wiggins’ speed, scheme versatility and playmaking instincts should make him the most sought after cornerback in the draft,” wrote Zierlein.

On3’s Sam Gillenwater also contributed to this article.