Baltimore, Maryland – What was supposed to be a routine joint practice between the Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts turned into chaos when rising Ravens star Nate Wiggins got involved in a heated altercation that brought the entire field to a halt. Wiggins was immediately ejected from practice after throwing punches during a brawl that quickly escalated.
💥 From Small Shove to All-Out Scramble
Roughly 90 minutes into practice, tensions boiled over during a punt drill. Ravens cornerback Keyon Martin shoved Colts running back Tyler Goodson at the end of a play where he had been blocking him. Goodson retaliated, prompting Nate Wiggins to sprint from the sideline and land multiple punches to Goodson’s body.
Players from both teams, even those not participating in the drill, rushed in, and it took time to break up the massive scuffle at the center of the field.
🗣️ Coach Harbaugh: “A Learning Moment for the Team”
Following the incident, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh commented:
“There’s a way to handle situations like that – just like in a real game. We did it 99% of the time, but not on that play.”
He emphasized that this moment should be seen as a valuable learning experience for the entire team.
After being removed from the field, Wiggins was sent indoors, where he watched the rest of practice from a window. Goodson was also taken off the field, according to Harbaugh.
🔥 Colts Safety: “You Can’t Escape a Joint Practice Without a Fight”
Camryn Bynum, safety for the Colts, was unsurprised by the skirmish:
“That’s joint practice. You know there’s always going to be a fight. Especially during special teams – that’s where the dog mentality shows up. It’s all love at the end of the day.”
Meanwhile, Ravens defensive end Nnamdi Madubuike, who was on a different field, recalled:
“I just heard Nate was slugging somebody.”
Shortly after, Ravens star Marlon Humphrey posted a video on Instagram asking Wiggins in the locker room what happened, but Wiggins remained silent.
📈 Who is Nate Wiggins?
The first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Wiggins had an impressive rookie season with 32 tackles, 13 pass breakups (2nd most on the team), and one pick-six in the regular-season finale.
With Brandon Stephens now with the New York Jets, Wiggins is expected to step into a starting role this season.
🛑 A Pattern in Joint Practices?
Coach Harbaugh recently noted that many teams are cutting joint practices to one day because “cheap shots often happen on the second day.” His concern now appears justified.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen added:
“We always say in meetings, ‘No fighting.’ Obviously, one scuffle broke out, but the guys handled it well, broke it up, and we got back to work.”
📅 What’s Next? Ravens vs Colts – Preseason Opener
The two teams will face off in their preseason opener this Thursday at 7:00 PM ET, at M&T Bank Stadium. With emotions already running high from the joint practice brawl, fans are now even more eager to see how things play out on the field!
