The Pittsburgh Steelers were quite literally just a couple of yards away from not making the NFL's 2025 playoffs. In a thriller of a regular-season finale, the Baltimore Ravens had the AFC North well within their grasp until Tyler Loop missed a field goal as time expired during a Week 18 matchup. The domino effect that would follow wasn't something that anyone could have predicted. Not only did John Harbaugh get fired from his post as the team's head coach, but Mike Tomlin also stepped down following a rather embarrassing postseason loss at the hands of the Houston Texans.
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Former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh (left) and former Steelers head coach (Mike Tomlin) greet each other near midfield after a professional football game in Pittsburgh, PA.
The Cleveland Browns also have a new head coach as 2026 training camps ramp up. There has been a lot of change in the division; however, Steelers' Mike McCarthy and Ravens' Jesse Minter will look to pick up right where their predecessors left off. The dynamic should switch up a little bit with Pittsburgh now being led by an offensive leader, while Minter was involved in the latest head-coaching cycle because of his prowess on the other side of the ball.
This is why the games between the rivals in 2026 should be extremely fun to watch. The two regular-season showdowns could come down to which coach can outsmart the other as the respective contests go on. Staying healthy will be very important for both rosters, especially because they will not meet until Week 15 at Acrisure Stadium.
Something to always pay attention to is how divisional opponents are progressing during training camp and the preseason. Unfortunately for Baltimore, it appears a serious injury may have been suffered during Tuesday's practice. According to ESPN reporter Jamison Hensley, cornerback Nate Wiggins went down and it didn't look good.
"Ravens CB Nate Wiggins was carted off the field an hour into Tuesday’s practice after suffering what looked to be a left leg/knee injury," Hensley wrote on X. "The 2024 first-round pick couldn’t put any weight on his left leg when heading into the team facility. He had his arms draped over trainers to go inside."
There has been no official word about what kind of injury might have been suffered, but the combination of it being Wiggins' leg and no weight being put on it could spell trouble for the Ravens. Hensley provided a second update; however, it did not give enough information to really know if the elite defender will be out for a long period of time.
"Jesse Minter on Nate Wiggins: 'I don’t have a ton of information yet.' Minter added, 'I think there’s optimism.' Wiggins was carted off at practice with what looked like a left leg/knee injury. Minter said he has no timetable on Wiggins," Hensley reported.
The Steelers completely revamped their receiving corps throughout the offseason and expect to have more success in that area. If Wiggins does have something serious going on, it could drastically affect how consistent Baltimore's secondary is able to be.
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Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. (11) and DK Metcalf (4) stand on the field alongside one another as the team goes through a workout during an Organized Team Activities (OTAs) session in 2026.
One player being out typically does not negatively affect a game or two — unless it is a starting quarterback. That doesn't change the fact that the Ravens are likely concerned about a potential season-ending injury to Wiggins. There will be more reports that come out about the situation, but it doesn't look good on the surface as Baltimore prepares for its first preseason matchup.
Training camp and exhibition contest injuries are always very unfortunate. No fan of any team wants to see it happen around the league. The NFL is at its best when the top players are performing week-in and week-out. For now, though, the Ravens will continue to hold their breath while waiting to get a legitimate prognosis regarding Wiggins.
Steelers Also Have Secondary Injuries To Contend With
Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey, Brandin Echols and Donte Kent are all currently going through something in Pittsburgh. Porter's could absolutely be magically healed if he lands a big contract extension, but the health of that group remains a concern anyway. It will definitely be something to keep an eye on as the Steelers continue to prepare for meaningful football games.
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