Ravens Week 17 Rookie Report: Wiggins and Rosengarten continue to look good; others record career highs

The first-round cornerback and second round offense tackled played well while the less-heralded players saw more action than usual in a blowout.

The Baltimore Ravens completed the third and final leg of a grueling stretch of three games in 11 days by decimating the playoff-bound and AFC South champion Houston Texans in a 31-2 shellacking on Christmas. They did so with meaningful contributions from several members of their 2024 rookie class. Their first two selections continued to stand out while several of their Day 3 picks and lone undrafted free agent set some new career highs.

Of the team’s rookies, only two—outside linebacker Adisa Isaac and center Nick Samac—were inactive. At the same time, safety Sanoussi Kane and cornerback T.J. Tampa were active for the second game in a row after missing time with injuries. Here is how the rest of Baltimore’s first-year players fared in their latest taste of regular-season NFL action.

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CB Nate Wiggins

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For the seventh game in a row, Wiggins played over 60% of the team’s total defensive snaps with 82% for the second straight, tying the third-highest of his career. After giving up a 13-yard reception to Texans’ star receiver Nico Collins on an inbreaking route for Houston’s first only four successful third-down conversion on 15 attempts, Wiggins only allowed two more receptions for a combined 13 receiving yards and didn’t allow a first down on either. The first-round stud finished with three solo tackles, all of which came on the catches he gave up for no additional yardage and recorded his 12th pass breakup of the season on great coverage rep where he drove on an outbreaking route toward the boundary.

On special teams, Wiggins made a nice play and had one made against him. His positive play occurred while on punt coverage where he faceguarded the gunner who willingly ran himself out of bounds which drew a flag. Two plays later after a re-kick that resulted in the Ravens’ offense getting pinned back further and giving up a safety, Wiggins got trucked by Texans running back Dameon Pierce on the ensuing kickoff as he gave Houston some juice in what was still a close game at that point. The collision appeared to have shaken him up a bit but after a short stint in the blue medical tent, he returned to the game in the first half and was fine the rest of the way.

OT Roger Rosengarten

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The second-rounder faced his second daunting challenge just four days after going up against TJ Watt and more than held his own against Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson who was the 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year and primarily lined up across from him. Rosengarten gave up just his third pressure in the Ravens’ last four games on a play that didn’t end in disaster but saw quarterback Lamar Jackson overthrow a wide-open target because his arm was hit as it was coming forward. Other than that lapse early in the game, he was lights out the rest of the way both as a pass protector and run blocker. Rosengarten sealed the edge for and climbed to the second level to burry defenders into ground on several of the Ravens’ successful runs to the right and helped the offensive line pave the way for a second straight 200-plus-yard rushing performance and sixth of the season—tying the Philadelphia Eagles for most in the NFL.

WR Devontez Walker

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Walker was active for the eighth time this season and saw his highest amount of snaps on offense while still contributing on special teams. The fourth-rounder’s 16 offensive snaps were five man than his previous career high that he set two weeks ago against the New York Giants. Walker saw twice as many targets as he did in that game on Christmas with his second and third of the season but didn’t record a catch on either. His first target came in the first half and sailed over his head errantly after Jackson’s arm was hit on the lone pressure Rosengarten allowed. Walker had to wait until the fourth quarter to get his second and it came on a beautiful deep ball from veteran backup quarterback Josh Johnson on a third along that he let slip through his outstretched hands. His 17 snaps on special teams tied three different players for the second-most on the team.

CB T.J. Tampa

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Thanks to the game getting out of hand in favor of the Ravens on the scoreboard, the fourth-round cornerback was able to record career highs in defensive snaps (six) and percentage of defensive snaps (11%) played and recorded. Tampa tied three different players for the team lead in special teams snaps with 19 and recorded his second career tackle and first since Week 4 on the same kick return Wiggins got trucked when he teamed up with wide receiver Tylan Wallace to takedown Pierce after a 45-yard return.

RB Rasheen Ali

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The fifth-rounder was active for the fourth straight game and recorded a carry on offense for the third game in a row before leaving the game early with a hip injury. With veteran Justice Hill out with a concussion, Ali was the first man up at running back to come into the game on offense when Derrick Henry needed a breather. During his short-lived playing time, he touched the ball twice, losing three yards on his lone rushing attempt and picking up 23 yards his lone kickoff opportunity which would’ve been more had he not slipped. The majority of his snaps came on offense with five and a season-low two on special teams.

DB Sanoussi Kane

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In his second game back in action from dealing with an injury, Kane played his second-most defensive snaps (six) and the highest percentage of defensive snaps (11%). The seventh-round safety recorded his fourth solo tackle, the eighth of his career and first since Week 10 on the final drive of the game when he limited Pierce to a three-yard gain with a solo takedown. Kane played the bulk of his snaps on special teams with 19 which tied Tampa for the most among rookies and all players on the team.

DB Beau Brade

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For the 10th time in the last 11 games, the undrafted rookie safety out of Maryland was active on game day and not just for special teams duties for the first time since Week 9. He recorded career highs in defensive snaps with six on the final drive of the game and logged a career-high two total tackles including his first-ever solo on the last play of the game to limit Pierce for a one-yard gain. Brade also recorded 17 snaps on special teams which tied him with Kane and linebackers Trenton Simpson and Malik Harrison for the second-most on the team on Wednesday.