Cornerback Nate Wiggins talks about the car accident

Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins felt good. He had performed well in the preseason and had just made his NFL debut. And then an 18-wheeler “grazed” his Lamborghini, sending the car off the road and sending Wiggins to the sidelines for Week 2.

Wiggins, who recently turned 21 and lives the furthest away from his family, said he was obviously scared.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh reported that Wiggins was “fine,” but “fine” was relevant to how bad it could have been. Wiggins still ended up on the injury report with a neck/concussion rating.

“I think it was just whiplash,” Wiggins said. “I just hit my head badly in the car accident and thought I had whiplash.”

Wiggins was “two minutes” from his home in Owings Mills, on the way home from a practice where he had spoken to The Banner about how pleased he was with his performance in his debut. Although he was mostly relegated to special teams, he felt like he showcased his physicality out there.

Already a slender player, Wiggins lost weight before the NFL combine, weighing in at a feathery 173 pounds. He was in his 180s when the Ravens drafted him, but people still doubted whether he could keep up with the bigger, faster, stronger players in the NFL.

Wiggins made his first tackles in the Week 1 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs against two notable players: wide receiver Rashee Rice and running back Isiah Pacheco.

Now all he had to do was make his debut at M&T Bank Stadium. His family came to the game and he was ready to show off whenever his name was called.

Instead, he missed practice that Thursday and Harbaugh announced Friday that he had an accident. Wiggins watched from the sidelines as his team lost to the Las Vegas Raiders.

The following week, Wiggins returned to the field on Thursday, but wore a red non-contact jersey until the final practice. Harbaugh said he didn't know if Wiggins would play Sunday because he needed to clear concussion protocol.

Wiggins didn't just play. The Ravens started him against the Dallas Cowboys. The rookie had his ups and downs, but he made one play that Harbaugh emphasized after the game. He forced CeeDee Lamb to fumble in the red zone, preventing a touchdown that would have put the Cowboys on top at game's end.

Wiggins is the latest of at least three Ravens to have a car accident this season. Tight end Mark Andrews and linebacker Josh Ross were also involved in car accidents. Police in Baltimore County and Howard County told The Banner that they have no records of Wiggins' accident.