Ravens Week 9 Rookie Report: Wiggins helps secure 2nd half shutout; Rosengarten continues to come on strong

The first-round cornerback had continued to shine while the second-round tackle rebounded from a rough beginning to in his fourth career start.

The Baltimore Ravens were back at home in Week 9 of the regular season to take on the surprisingly competitive Denver Broncos in an AFC showdown matinee on Sunday afternoon and received significant contributions from several members of their 2024 rookie class.

On a day when only four of the team’s nine draft selections dressed, the top two had profound impacts on the team securing a 41-10 win in what head coach John Harbaugh called the team’s “best complete game of the season so far.”

The only three drafted rookies on the 53-man roster who did not participate were third-round outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, fifth-round running back Rasheen Ali and sixth-round center Nick Samac. Undrafted rookie safety Beau Brade was active for the third time in the last four games while fellow first-year free agent, running back Chris Collier was active for the fifth time this season.

Here is how the first-year players fared in their latest taste of regular season NFL action.

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CB Nate Wiggins

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After missing last week’s game with a shoulder injury and an illness that prevented him from being able to travel with the team to Cleveland, the first-round rookie returned to action in rotational action in Week 9. Wiggins unevenly split time with three-time Pro Bowl veteran Marlon Humphrey on the outside, playing 32 defensive snaps—his third-lowest total of the season and fewest since Week 5 when he played just 21 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He came in on what seemed like every other drive and helped secure the defense’s second-half shutout by joining forces with safety Ar’Darius Washington to stop Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton short of the goal line on fourth down to force a fourth turnover on downs.

OT Roger Rosengarten

Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

In his sixth start at right tackle, the second-round lineman had a strong all-around game from both pass protection and run-blocking. After struggling as a pass blocker in recent weeks, Rosengarten didn’t surrender a single pressure on 22 pass-blocking snaps which tied him for the lowest pressure rate allowed among rookie offensive linemen with a minimum of 10 snaps in Week 9.

As a run-blocker, Henry helped pave the way for the Ravens’ offense to produce its 42nd straight game of rushing for 100-plus yards and he even got four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry to take part in a rare post-touchdown celebration following his second rushing score of the game.

WR Devontez Walker

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Despite the arrival of veteran Pro Bowl wideout Diontae Johnson via trade, the fourth-round wideout was active for the third straight game and didn’t just play exclusively on special teams. His 17 snaps in that phase of the game were the third-most of any player on the team and he saw his first snaps on offense late in the fourth quarter with the win well in hand with four snaps between the second-to-last and final possessions of the game. Walker was flagged on the for going out of bounds while covering the Ravens’ second punt and first since their opening drive.

DB Sanoussi Kane

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For just the second time this season, the seventh-round safety didn’t play exclusively on special teams but just like last week, all of his tackles came in that phase of the game. Kane made a solo tackle on the Ravens’ second kickoff of the game late in the first quarter that prevented the returner from reaching the 30-yard line and assisted on the last kickoff of the first half in the final minute of the second. He continues to establish himself as a core special teams contributor as his 18 snaps tied inside linebackers Chris Board and Malik Harrison for the second-most on the team. Kane was among the shift of backups and depth players who checked into the game on defense late in the fourth quarter and played a career-high seven snaps on that side of the ball.

RB Chris Collier

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After making several ill-advised decisions to bring the ball out of the end zone as a kick returner last week that resulted in the offense being backed up behind the 30-yard line, the Ravens still left the undrafted rookie on the kick return unit. Collier made much better decisions, returning the only one of his three opportunities that didn’t make it to the end zone and proceeded to rip off a 30-yard return to the Baltimore 37-yard line to spark a nine-play and 63-yard touchdown drive. With the Ravens up by more than 30 points, he finally got his first offensive snaps of the season on the final drive of the game in which veteran quarterback Josh Johnson rushed the ball on a pair of quarterback sneaks to give himself enough room to take a knee without the risk of giving up a safety.

DB Beau Brade

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For the third time in the last four weeks, the undrafted rookie safety out of Maryland was active for a game. While he played predominantly on special teams, Brade saw his first defensive snap late on the final drive of the game. He tied fourth-year wide receiver and core special teams ace Tylan Wallace for the fourth-most snaps in that phase of the game with 16. Brade’s most impactful play was a key block to spring Wallace for a 21-yard return that set up the Ravens’ seventh and final scoring drive with favorable field position late in the third quarter.