Ravens Wild Card Rookie Report: Wiggins Allows First Career Touchdown; Rosengarten Neutralizes T.j. Watt Again

Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

The first-round cornerback paid for a lack of discipline while the second-round offensive tackle handled a future Hall of Famer.

The Baltimore Ravens won their fifth straight game to punch their ticket to the Divisional Round of the playoffs in a 28-14 thrashing of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday in the Wild Card round. They did so with meaningful contributions from several members of their 2024 rookie class. Their first two selections played prominent roles while several of their Day 3 picks played predominantly on special teams.

Of the team’s rookies, the four inactives included outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, running back Rasheen Ali, center Nick Samac and safety Beau Brade. Here is how the rest of Baltimore’s first-year players fared in their first taste of postseason NFL action.

CB Nate Wiggins

After going the entire regular season and first two quarters of his playoff debut without giving up a touchdown, the first-round stud cornerback gave up the first of his career in the third quarter of the Ravens’ victory over the Steelers. On a second-and-long from the Baltimore 36-yard line, Wiggins gave Pittsburgh wide receiver George Pickens a free release off the line of scrimmage and then let him get behind him to haul in a perfectly-placed moon ball from Russell Wilson. Pickens proceeded to make an overaggressive Ar’Darius Washington whiff with a spin move on the boundary and strolled into the end zone to make it a two-score game.

Despite that disappointing lapse, Wiggins played well overall otherwise including making a strong open-field takedown for one of his two total tackles. It took place on a third-and-22 in the fourth quarter when brought down Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson for a seven-yard reception which set up a turnover on downs on fourth-and-15 on the next play. His 89% of defensive snaps played marked his ninth straight of over 60% dating back to Week 10.

OT Roger Rosengarten

In his third career start against the Steelers and seven-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker T.J. Watt, the second-rounder completely neutralized the future Hall of Famer for the second time in less than a month. Watt was not only held without a sack for the fifth straight week but he didn’t even register a single tackle, pressure or quarterback hit. After going viral earlier in the week for calling himself a “nobody” while making a humble request from the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in the latest episode of in-season ‘Hard Knocks’, Rosengarten proved that he is definitely a somebody after blanking the 2021 recipient of that award in Watt. He helped pave the way for a pair of franchise-record rushing performances that included the most yards on the ground as a team (299) and individual player—Derrick Henry with 186 and two touchdowns.

WR Devontez Walker

Walker was active for the fifth straight game and 10th time this season and saw action on offense and special teams for the fifth week in a row. His two offensive snaps tied for his fewest of the season and lowest since Week 12. The fourth-rounder played 18 snaps on special teams which was the second-most among all rookies and team overall. He missed out on his opportunity to record his third tackle of the season when he whiffed on a chance to take down Steelers returner Calvin Austin III on the Ravens’ last punt of the game.

CB T.J. Tampa

The fourth-round cornerback was active for the fourth straight game since being activated from injured reserve and extended his consecutive game streak of recording at least one tackle to three straight. Even though he didn’t play a single snap on defense, he made his presence felt on special teams where he rallied to make his second solo takedown of his rookie season on the Ravens’ fourth and final punt of the game to limit the returner to a 14-yard return after Walker’s initial whiff.

Tampa’s first play he made on special teams was when he face-guarded Steelers gunner James Pierre out of bounds without touching him on the Ravens’ second punt return opportunity of the game. Since Pierre was the first person to touch the ball after voluntarily going out of bounds, he was flagged for illegal touching which gave the Ravens a free five yards. Tampa’s 18 snaps on special teams were the second-most among rookies and third-most among all players on the team.

DB Sanoussi Kane

After getting some action on defense in the final two games of the regular season, Kane was back to playing exclusively on special teams in his playoff debut. The seventh-round safety played 19 snaps in the third phase of the game which was the most among rookies and tied linebackers Malik Harrison, Chris Board and Kristian Welch for the most among all players on the team.